Sun, Jul 05 2009
Investment company Global Finance plans to invest over 50 million euro in the construction of a multi-functional complex in Sofia.
The company has already bought a plot in Sofia's residential district East worth 17 million euro, investor.bg reported.
The complex will include offices, commercial and residential terrains having a total built-up area of over 40 000 sq m.
Global Finance's real estate investment fund Global Emerging Property Fund (GEPF) plans to expand its portfolio in Bulgaria and currently examines the opportunities for gaining new projects in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv.
The company has already invested in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. The Bulgarian investment includes supermarket chain Familia, Onda Coffee Break and ice cream producer Delta Ice Cream.
GEDF was established in 2005. The company focuses on acquiring and developing modern office and trade centres, industrial property and property management.
Global Finance is investment company with share capital participation in South Eastern Europe with offices in Sofia, Athens and Bucharest. Since its establishmebnt in 1992, the company has managed funds of over 700 million euro.
The project will be financed by the Bulgarian Bank for Development, and the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas, or Jessica Programme, although the report has so far failed to reveal the total cost of the vast enterprise.
The strategic plan envisages the conservation of the nature "for decades ahead", and it was formulated by a municipal team headed by professor Ivan Nikiforov, backed by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.
Once the overhaul and reconstruction of the Sofia–Vidin line is complete, it will cut travel time to three hours, as the train will be able to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, shortening the journey to three hours.
Marriott however has made it clear that is not interested in investing in construction, but rather to occupy and manage existing buildings. Its strategy is to obtain management contracts.
Investors realise that it’s not viable to have a building remaining empty over the course of a year – so it's better for them to employ more flexibility to offset that loss.