Where will the major IBM investment in Croatia be located?
After Ikea, IBM company has reportedly also chosen Rugvica near Zagreb for its operations. According to sources, Rugvica is the town where the global IT giant will install its facility for data storage, reports poslovni.hr on July 27, 2016.
The plot of land in Rugvica is situated near the Sava River, where the Hrvatska Elektroprivreda power company (HEP) planned to build the Prevlaka nuclear power plant in the 1980s, but has since given up on the idea. The unofficial information was confirmed by the Rugvica Municipality Mayor Mate Čičak, who pointed out that they had been working with the Agency for Investment and Competitiveness regarding the 50 hectare plot of land.
“I would not want to speculate because we have not worked out all the details, but I can confirm that the agency is interested in the plot which is located along the Sava River. Three main transmission lines are passing over the plot which are necessary for demanding equipment which IBM uses”, said Čičak.
If IBM begins the construction of the complex, it will be to the great benefit of the residents of Rugvica because a large influx of money is expected in the area, including from land tax and communal fees for the construction. For instance, when Ikea was built, the municipal budget received six million kuna on two separate occasions. “When I became the head of the municipality, I clearly said that Rugvica would not stop at Ikea which only emphasized our potential. For a year and a half, we have been working intensively on measures to attract new large investors. Our goal is to attract investments and create new jobs for our residents”, said Čičak.
He also announced the start of the construction of Ikea Designer Outlet Croatia in March 2017, which will cover 15,000 square metres and is due to open in 2018. In the second phase of the investment, the construction of a hypermarket, a retail facility, gas station and two fast food chains is planned. The money that they will earn from the arrival of new investors will be used to better organize the neighbourhoods and create better life for the residents. One of the goals is to attract new residents as well.
