New conference center

City of Klagenfurt is looking for millions

This is what the new conference center at the trade fair is supposed to look like.(Bild: Kärntner Messen)

Carinthia's provincial capital is to receive a new conference center, as has already been reported several times. Work on the 20 million euro project has been underway for two years. But the city of Klagenfurt has yet to find the money.

Messe Klagenfurt President Harald Kogler has been planning a conference center for Klagenfurt for two years. It is to provide space for 3500 visitors and cost 20 million euros. The trade fair company wants to cover half of this investment sum, with the remaining ten million to be shared between the state and the city.

But while the state had long since promised its share, the city put the brakes on. Philipp Liesnig (SP), the city councillor responsible for finances, saw no possibility of raising the necessary money.

The city could pay its share with the money from school sales, tourism and business.

Philipp Liesnig, Stadtvize

However, Liesnig now seems to have found a financing option: "The five million euros can be split over two years. The city will receive 2.2 million euros from the sale of the Benedictine School. The money could be used for this." The rest should be paid for by tourism and the economy.

"Tourism receives an annual budget of 2.5 million, the VP business promotion of 375,000 euros," says Liesnig. "The VP has already hoarded 2.4 million euros as a reserve. The money is available at any time and could be used for this purpose." A lot of money would ultimately flow back into the city coffers via the indirect profitability, says the finance officer.