With British and Swiss projects already underway, Chinese delegation is now interested in Podi zone and the city freight harbour
According to the press release sent by the City administration of Šibenik on December 17, 2015, next week is an important one for this Dalmatian city. The city council is expected to accept the budget for 2016 on Tuesday. Next year’s budget is 205 million kuna and it is extremely important for large development plans, especially for the commercialisation of the former TEF area (Electrode and ferro-alloy factory) for which 200 000 kuna has been put aside for that is the cost of an international public tender for investors interested in this extremely attractive location by the seaside.
According to the mayor of Šibenik, Željko Burić, this international tender will most probably be published in the Financial Times by the end of January 2016 and after they “feel the pulse” of possible investors, binding tender for concessions will follow. New projects will be developed in an area spreading over 28 hectares, all owned by the city with clear papers. Entire zone will be offered, not just the coastal belt and given its location it is perfect for tourism and commercial businesses as well as residential projects. Several groups of investors have already been acquainted with the possibilities in this zone, including a large group of potential investors from Iran and Germany.
Former TEF factory in Šibenik
It seems this zone is also generating interest from investors in China since their delegation just finished a tour of Šibenik. During their visit they toured the industrial zone Podi and they talked with the city officials about the Šibenik freight harbour which is currently owned by Petrokemija from Kutina.
Chinese delegation was also interested in the possibility of connecting the Podi industrial zone to the existing railway system and they were offered two possibilities; connection in Šibenik or connection in a nearby railway knot in the village of Perkovići. Mayor Burić also acquainted the Chinese delegation with the above mentioned international tender for TEF.
These new projects would be a great continuation of recent foreign developments in Šibenik and a new breath of life in this once forgotten Croatian city. Net value of current projects has now exceeded several billion Euros if we take into account his large luxury villa project developed by British investors and the Swiss project on the Zablaće plateau, which will be designed by the famous Croatian architect Nikola Bašić, creator of the world renowned Sea organ in Zadar.
