In an alleged last step before mandate end, the management of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, is trying to enter a building-construction deal for 18 000 sq m it owns in the eastern part of the Bulgarian capital.

Daily newspaper Dnevnik broke the news on October 8, claiming that the terrain, located near the short highway leading to Sofia Airport, was quite an attractive spot for many developers. The university’s management, namely the Academic Council presided by the rector Prof. Boyan Biolchev, made a decision to launch negotiations with three companies, Active Properties, Global Finance and an unnamed Turkish firm.

Only 8 000 sq m of the property are ownership of the university, while the rest are state property. The successful candidate will be able to construct its own building on the university property, as well as a new building for the Sofia University.

The Academic Council could sell the 8000 sq m for at least eight million euro, as the price of a square metre in the area is no less than 1000 euro. The university however prefers to become owner of a new building, instead of selling the empty property.

No public tender has been called for the deal, Dnevnik reported, but instead the three companies have been approached directly. Marcho Markov, head of the Univerisity's Economic and Investment department said, as quoted by Dnevnik, that they would follow all proper legal procedures.

He said, the procedure to be followed would be a public-private partnership with the candidate that submits the best offer.