Q:
A:
Austrian company Spar interested in investing in Serbia
Belgrade/Vienna,
11 January 2008
Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo said today that representatives of the Austrian company Spar are interested in building large shopping centres and hypermarkets in Serbia, not just in major cities but also in small towns.
Following a meeting with representatives of Spar in Vienna, Bubalo stated for the news agency Tanjug that their initial plan is to open a large shopping centre, with a few hypermarkets and to then continue developing in smaller cities.
He said that Spar is present in almost all former Yugoslavian republics and some neighbouring countries, therefore it is logical that they wish to come to Serbia.
The Minister expressed satisfaction at the company’s huge interest in Serbia since that would increase competition in the Serbian market, which protects consumer interests.
According to Bubalo, the speed at which this company will arrive in Serbia also depends on local self-governments, considering the fact that some of them very frequently have problems in providing adequate space and building licenses. Bubalo said that the Austrian company is ready to start building the first shopping malls as soon as the location is found, Bubalo said.
According to him, a most modern shopping mall can be built in 18 months, while smaller centres, such as hypermarkets, Euromarkets and Spar markets can be built in a relatively short time. Bubalo met today in Vienna with representatives of the Spar group and talked with them about the entrance of the Spar Group on the Serbian market. Spar is the biggest supermarket chain in Austria with over 1,000 facilities, more than 500 in Italy and approximately 280 in Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Croatia, and it has over 25, 000 employees.
He said that Spar is present in almost all former Yugoslavian republics and some neighbouring countries, therefore it is logical that they wish to come to Serbia.
The Minister expressed satisfaction at the company’s huge interest in Serbia since that would increase competition in the Serbian market, which protects consumer interests.
According to Bubalo, the speed at which this company will arrive in Serbia also depends on local self-governments, considering the fact that some of them very frequently have problems in providing adequate space and building licenses. Bubalo said that the Austrian company is ready to start building the first shopping malls as soon as the location is found, Bubalo said.
According to him, a most modern shopping mall can be built in 18 months, while smaller centres, such as hypermarkets, Euromarkets and Spar markets can be built in a relatively short time. Bubalo met today in Vienna with representatives of the Spar group and talked with them about the entrance of the Spar Group on the Serbian market. Spar is the biggest supermarket chain in Austria with over 1,000 facilities, more than 500 in Italy and approximately 280 in Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Croatia, and it has over 25, 000 employees.
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