OREANDA-NEWS. March 13, 2012. The state-owned Port of Tallinn and Unieveem Eesti, Estonian operation of one of the world's largest logistics companies Katoen Natie, have signed an agreement on the construction of a warehouse complex and distribution center at Estonia's main merchant port of Muuga.

According to the agreement Unieveem plans to build in the first phase of the project a modern warehouse and distribution complex with an area of 25,000 square meters mainly for cocoa beans and cocoa-based products on a 4.5 hectare plot at Muuga, Port of Tallinn said.

Unieveem Eesti CEO Mart Melles said the complex will cost 16 million euros to build and it should start work in the first quarter of 2013. The new facility will initially give work to 25 people.

In the second phase Katoen Natie plans to establish at Muuga one of its most important distribution centers in the Baltic Sea region for other commodities as well, seeing it as a bridge between the East and the West, Port of Tallinn said.

Katoen Natie is a global logistics services provider for several industries including manufacturing and the automotive industry. It has 159 logistics centers in 28 countries of the world with 10,500 employees. The total area of covered warehouse space exceeds five million square meters.