Investment contest for Circus to be announced in two months

The Ministry of Culture in two months will announce an investment contest as a result of which there will be signed a public-private partnership contract for the repair of the Chisinau Circus. The first circus performances may take place at the end of the year. The announcement was made by Minister of Culture Boris Focsa in a news conference on January 4, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I maintain my opinion that only a public-private partnership or an investment contest can save us. The Ministry of Culture already worked out the business plan. We had serious discussions with representatives of the Public Property Agency. An investment contest will be announced in two months. I think this is the best formula,” said the minister. According to Boris Focsa, the business plan stipulates investments of about 100 million lei. The contract will lay down terms for finishing the repair works and will include a clause that will guarantee that the Circus building will be used for the same purpose. The Chisinau Circus was rented by a Cypriot company for a period of 29 years in 2008. The company committed itself to repairing the building, but did not honor its commitment. In February 2010, the Prosecutor General’s Office filed a civil lawsuit, asking annulling the contract. On March 31, 2011, the Economic out of Appeals invalidated the contract.