ZAGREB, August 24, 2018 – The local authorities in the Town of Osijek and Osijek-Baranja County on Friday discussed possible opportunities for potential investments by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and the Maribor-based SHS Aviation company in the airport in the eastern Croatian city.
Deputy Mayor Boris Piližota said that the meeting was organised following an initiative that emerged through the town of Maribor, Slovenia where the Chinese company manages the business of Maribor Airport and because Osijek had intensified cooperation with Maribor over the past few years in various segments.
“Considering that the airport is important for Osijek and the entire region, we agreed to meet with potential investors. If, after the meeting and once they have inspected the airport, they show interest in further talks, then we will include the government because the state is the majority owner of the airport,” Piližota said.
He added that town authorities believe Osijek is interesting for investors because of its geo-strategic position with four capital cities being located just 250 kilometres away from it – Zagreb, Budapest, Belgrade and Sarajevo – and the airport has huge potential for cargo transport.
Head of the county office for investments, development projects and EU funds, Nataša Tramišak said that the county had allocated 800,000 kuna in support for Osijek Airport and that it has put forward a proposal to the government that the next development agreement incorporates reconstruction of the airport’s passenger terminal.
We need investors that will bring in passengers and revive cargo transport, which currently is not operating at all, Tramišak said.
