The governing bodies of Ventspils City Council and Freeport of Ventspils Authority, the project authors and builders, Ventspils Electronics Factory ltd., one of the centre’s future lessees, as well as others involved in the project participated in the time capsule ceremony. The capsule contains a message about the project and that very day, the September 3 publication of the Ventas Balss newspaper and an electronic host board, manufactured for the occasion by Ventspils Electronics Factory ltd.
Aivars Lembergs, the Chairman of the Board of Freeport of Ventspils, reminded everyone that not so long ago a meadow occupied the area, but later, thanks to the co-financing of the Freeport and Industrial Area Access Road project by the European Union, a development of infrastructure has been carried out: “Today we can see that it was not in vain, as we are about to take the next historical step in the direction of industrial development in Ventspils. Such factories create the socio-economic stability, which is highly important.”
Ilmārs Osmanis, a member of the board of Ventspils Electronics Factory ltd., expressed his content that interests of all the parties have coincided – as the company reached a point when it needed to expand, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority had the possibility to attract funds in order to build a suitable industrial building. As stated by Ilmārs Osmanis: “We already produce tens of millions euro worth of export produce, and we will increase this amount.”
The Ventspils Centre for Electronics building is being constructed on the territory of Ventspils High Technology Park and it will logically complement the existing group of industrial and office buildings. One of the potential lessees of the centre is Ventspils Electronics Factory ltd., which already operates in the existing Ventspils High Technology Park building, but is willing to expand its business in Ventspils. Currently 90 employees work at Ventspils Electronics Factory ltd., but it is estimated that at least 45 new jobs will be created thanks to the expansion.
By request of the Freeport of Ventspils Authority, the construction of the Centre for Electronics is being performed by Abora ltd. in collaboration with a Ventspils-based company Pilsbūve ltd. The total construction costs are estimated to be approximately 3 million euro, 40 % of which will be covered by the European Regional Development Fund. The loan for the construction of the centre is provided by the Latvian branch of Pohjola Bank plc.
The 4300 m2 area of the industrial building of the Centre for Electronics will be suitable for electrical technology manufacturers. The industrial building construction project is being carried out as part of the EU co‑financing programme Support for construction or reconstruction of industrial premises, administered by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia. As set forth in the conditions for the attraction of funds, at least 20 new jobs are to be created in 12 months after the project is completed, and at least 50 new jobs in 36 months. It is also set forth that 10 years after the project is finished the industrial building shall be leased to a minimum of 3 unrelated manufacturing industry enterprises.
[S627_Vēstījuma kapsulas iemūrēšana Ventspils elektronikas centra pamatos ]