January 20 (SeeNews) - Serbian diversified group Delta Holding and a tie-up led by Belgrade airport operator Aerodrom Nikola Tesla [BEL:AERO] have been admitted to bid in a tender for the reconstruction and operation of Sava congress centre in the Serbian capital, the city government said.
The two companies have been selected as qualified partners in the first stage of the tendering process and are invited to participate in the second stage, according to a public notice posted on the website of Belgrade city government on Thursday.
Delta Holding and Aerodrom Nikola Tesla, the only two companies that participated in the first stage of the tender, will be able to place their bids by March 20, 2017, the city government said.
The bids should include a financial offer, a ten-year business plan and details on the reconstruction project of Sava congress centre.
The winner will be in charge of the complete renovation of the congress centre, with particular emphasis on the possibility of construction of a new convention hall and other facilities as well as improving the energy efficiency of the building.
Earlier this week, during the presentation of Delta Holding's financial results for 2016, the group's executive director Zivorad Vasic said that it is not sure whether Delta will remain in the tender, as the reconstruction would cost between 25 million euro ($26.6 million) and 30 million euro, much more than the initially expected 12 million euro. The Aerodrom Nikola Tesla-led consortium includes civil engineering group Energoprojekt [BEL:ENHL], according to Vasic.
In July, Serbian media reported that Aerodrom Nikola Tesla is interested in the acquisition of a 49% stake in Sava congress centre and is ready to invest 30 million euro in its transformation. Aerodrom plans to move its management and operational services to the congress centre and transform the building to accommodate a shopping centre and a hotel. The venue would be renamed to Congress Centre Airport Nikola Tesla, Serbian media said at the time.
Sava congress centre has a total area of 100,000 sq m, including a 4,000-seat theatre hall, 15 conference halls, an exhibition area, restaurants, bars, offices and shops.
($ = 0.939769 euro)