Real estate (NT) development companiesMales" Chairman of the Board Arvydas Avulis says he will build the National Stadium, but both Lithuanian and European bureaucrats, who are stopping the progress of the project, need to work more efficiently in order to start the construction faster.
"We will definitely build, we are willing to work, but to work, you need to have a permit. There is no such permission yet. (…) Bureaucrats compete, which of them has more abilities, almost like in the Olympic Games, who will achieve a better result. We also have a good regiment of bureaucrats in Lithuania, but now the competition is with the European Commission, they are not much worse there, maybe even more advanced", A. Avulis told "Žinių radio" on Monday.
"I wouldn't say that this (participation in the stadium construction project - ELTA) is a mistake, but maybe I was too optimistic about the bureaucratic process. Hope always dies last and optimism is especially needed in business. (…) In this place, I imagined that this is Lithuania's shame, we have been building a stadium for 37 years and we are not able to do it, most countries in Africa have stadiums, but Lithuania does not," he noted.
A. Avulis also urged not to oppose the issues of hiding places and the construction of the stadium. According to him, it is possible to build both mentioned objects and not talk only about the war, thus scaring potential investors.
"It's best to do both (building shelters and a stadium - ELTA). If we only talk about preparing for aggression, war, then we are scaring ourselves, scaring investors as well. Who will want to invest in Lithuania then?" - asked the businessman rhetorically.
"People want security and will do everything to make it safe, but we have to broadcast other news that life is normal here," he assured.
National Stadium from "BaltCapThe manager of Hanner explained that he does not want to predict when the construction works of the mentioned project could start, but he hopes to receive the assessment of the European Commission by the end of September and to have a decision in Lithuania before the Seimas elections in mid-October.
"I have predicted more than once and every time I have flown across the country. There is the European Commission and the European Parliament, which are on vacation, when they return after the vacation at the end of August, maybe within a month we will be able to get something positive", said A. Avulis.
"We need to agree in Lithuania as well, there is a Public Procurement Service, its control is carried out by the Audit Committee of the Seimas. There are also a lot of political disputes and speculations going on here, so here again everything can change quickly and look different. I think that there should be some kind of decision before the Seimas elections", he asserted.
ELTA reminds that at the end of June VPN presented its opinion on National Stadium changes in the project and remains on the assessment that the division of the indexed price between the parties to the contract must be different than what is currently being proposed Vilnius city municipality. Also, in the letter submitted by the Office, which ELTA has seen, it is urged not to index new assets with a value above 7 million. euros.
VPT also asserts that due to the completion of additional works after shortening the period of operation and payments to the concessionaire, in the context of risk sharing, this change should not be seen as having any significant impact.
In the middle of May Vilnius city municipalities the council once again approved the changes foreseen in the multipurpose project of the capital, which includes National Stadium. The value of the project is 157,23 million. euros.
According to the capital city municipality, due to the anticipated reduction in the intensity of investment indexation, the concessionaire will refuse construction financing discounts granted to the Vilnius Municipality and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (ŠMSM), as a result of which the total need for public funds will change minimally - to the lesser half in favor of the municipality and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (ŠMSM).
However, according to VPN, the Vilnius authorities took into account only a part of the changes, and regarding the comments that were not taken into account, the Service will contact the institution hoping for explanations. The conclusion of the European Commission is expected to be received before the summer.
The real estate development company Hanner intends to take over the project of the national stadium in Vilnius from the capital fund manager BaltCap. Its owner, Arvydas Avulis, indicates that the construction of the stadium could be completed by the end of 2026. According to the mayor of the capital Valdas Benkunskas, the actual cost of construction alone from 2020 beginning until 2022 increased by 40 percent.
The entire multifunctional complex includes the National Stadium with a sports museum inside, a sports center with basketball, handball, gymnastics, and boxing halls, three football training fields, an international category athletics stadium with a football field, an athletics warm-up area with throwing sectors, a cultural center with a library and Kindergarten with 300 places.
It is estimated that the cost of construction works increased by 27,1 million. euros, new works would also contribute (3 thousand additional seats in the stadium and a universal arena), that is 13 million. euros. However, it is stated that 38,1 million euros could be saved by borrowing for only 2 years, instead of 22 years, as previously planned.
Ignas Dobrovolskas (ELTA)
