January 24 (SeeNews) - Serbian diversified conglomerate Delta Holding is still interested in the reconstruction and operation of the Sava congress centre in Belgrade, the deputy president of Delta, Zivorad Vasic, has said.
"We will wait for the launch of a new tender for the operation of Sava centre, what we know is that this is planned to happen in the next month or so," Vasic said in a video file posted on the website of news agency Tanjug on Thursday.
Delta Holding has consulted congress tourism experts who estimated the needed investments in Sava Centre at between 75 million euro ($83 million) and 80 million euro, Vasic said.
"Sava Centre hosts culture events and congresses and investment return on such business is too low. According to the forecasts, the investment return period is between 35 and 40 years," he added.
The Belgrade city government launched a tender for a public-private partnership for the operation of the congress centre in 2018 but last year decided to award a concession contract, in order to retain its ownership, Belgrade deputy mayor Goran Vesic said in March 2019.
In 2018, the Belgrade city government invited Delta Holding to submit a binding bid for the reconstruction and operation of Sava Centre. According to media reports, Delta was ready to invest 30 million euro in the project in return of a 49% stake in the company operating the congress centre.
The Sava congress centre has a total area of 100,000 sq m, including a 4,000-seat theatre hall, 15 conference halls, an exhibition area, restaurants, bars, offices and shops.
($ = 0.905297 euro)