Casinos Austria not rushing to invest in Azov City since the project has no master plan
Casinos Austria Company that in July won the tender for the right to lease a 1.5 hectare land plot in Rostov`s part of Azov City gaming zone is not going to sign the lease contract and the investment agreement until the master plan of the zone development is elaborated, as the RIA “Novosti” found out from a representative of the company, Martin Himmelbauer.
In late July Rostov region held a tender for the right to lease 16 land plots of the first phase of Azov City gaming zone that is being created on the border with Krasnodar region.
Following the tender, the authorities announced that all land plots were reserved, but after a while one investor refused to participate in the project, and Casinos Austria did not sign the required documents in due time.
The regional Ministry of Economy reported that the company was given an extension, and then the negotiations were resumed.
“Our company is concerned with Azov City project and hopes for co-operation with Krasnodar and Rostov. But to make a final decision we need a certain general plan of the entire project”, Hiimmelbauer said.
He remarked that the company is not waiting till the launch of the gaming zone but just willing to have a look at the general plan of its development.
“As our participation in the project is not prevailing, we can join the work quite promptly, so we are not at all in a hurry”, added the representative.
Himmelbauer said that the cautiousness in decision-making is also connected with the global economic situation.
“Stock exchanges are going mad, and everyone is haunted by the shadow of the economic collapse. Our company and the like have to think twice before making any investments, and we must have an absolutely clear vision of what we are investing into”, he explained.
In his turn, the Chief Architect of Rostov region Alexander Boyarinov reported that the development of the gaming zone master plan is to be completed in December.
“The first phase was allotted, everything (the plan) was done for it, the tender was held, and now nobody restrains them from building and working. And the development of the general plan is to be completed in December”, said Boyarinov.
By July 1st, 2009, all Russian gambling facilities must be relocated to four gaming zones – in Krasnodar, Rostov, Primorie, Altay and Kaliningrad regions. Rostov region and Krasnodar region have claimed that the first phase of their zone will have been implemented by this date.
RIA “NOVOSTI”