"Auchan" in Tomsk may appear near Sosnovy Bor or around SEZ

TOMSK, Jul 12 – RIA Tomsk. Representatives of "Auchan" group of companies will consider platforms for placement of the first shop in Tomsk, among them – are the district of Sosnovy Bor and the territory adjoining the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) the press service of the regional administration reported on Tuesday.

Earlier it was reported that in June of this year the CEO of Auchan Russia Jean-Pierre Germain and the Tomsk governor Sergey Zhvachkin agreed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Germain in 2016 will visit the region and will get acquainted with the platforms suitable for construction of shopping centers.

"Representatives of "Auchan" first of all will consider two territories in the regional center. It is a site near Sosnovy Bor which will receive the status of the platform of "the large-scale investment project" soon that will allow applicants to buy the land without competitive procedures. <…> The second site can be picked up in the area adjoining to the Special economic zone", – is said in the message.

It is specified that on the platform near Sosnovy Bor it's possible both construction of separate trade gallery, and placement of "Auchan" in shopping center which will be built by other developer. The region of the SEZ is attractive as a zone of intensive housing and infrastructure estate where now more than 150 thousand residents of Tomsk live in ten-minute availability.

According to the press service the retailer will also consider options of entry into projects of redevelopment of the former production sites of bearing plant and "Sibelektromotor".

"Tomsk, by our estimates, is included into ten Russian cities with high potential for development of retail spaces. <…> We plan to realize in Russia one project a year with considerable investments and we are very interested in presence in Tomsk", – quoted in the message the head of "Immochan Russia" Thierry Leconte.

According to information from open sources, Holding Auchan SA – the French corporation presented in many countries of the world. One of the world's largest operators of retail networks, including network of grocery hypermarkets Auchan.