Fresh problems for Zagreb’s new terminal

Suspicion over tender procedures arise

The much anticipated and much delayed construction of Zagreb’s new terminal has run into fresh problems which threaten to delay the start of construction. Last week the Croatian government announced six companies which made it into the second round, vying to run Zagreb’s Pleso Airport and its construction of a new terminal. A total of ten companies and consortiums were in the running with the four that lost out crying foul. The government was supposed to announce the list of companies that made into the second round weeks ago but made no explanation as to why the process had been delayed. The four companies that didn’t make it into the second round are demanding for the tender process to be halted, arguing that corruption has been involved. They also claim that certain companies that made it into the second round do not meet the necessary requirements outlined by the terms and conditions of the tender.

The Croatian government does not want to reveal the names of the companies that made it into the second round. According to local media a Turkish company did not make it. The Turks are now determined to see the entire tender fail and will do their outmost for that to happen.

The ten companies which are vying to run Zagreb are: Munich Airport, TAV Holding from Turkey, a joint bid by a Turkish consortium and Seoul Airport, Houston Airport, an Austrian and Spanish consortium, a joint bid by Athens Airport and an infrastructure conglomerate, a German consortium, British consortium, Zurich Airport and Limak from Turkey. Many believe that Houston is the hot favourite to win with strong lobbying from the United States Embassy in Zagreb.