SLOVAKIA’S Defence Ministry will announce a tender to rent the premises of the Vojenský Opravárenský Podnik (VOP) company based in Nováky, while stressing it wants to “maintain state ownership” as well as employment in the firm, the SITA newswire reported.
VOP Nováky mainly handles the disposal of old ammunition. The ministry has reportedly set the criteria for the tender, SITA wrote.
The ministry plans to finish the competition by September 15. The winning bidder should rent the VOP premises for 20 years.
At the moment, the majority of VOP orders come from the Defence Ministry and its financing is secure only until the end of September. However, the minister said that the company is still working normally and remains a responsible trading partner. The rent paid should cover the minimum costs of reconstruction, according to the ministry’s plans.
Defence Minister Martin Glváč said that several companies are interested.
“There were three to four companies interested in advance, but we cannot speak too soon [about the results] as it will be a really transparent selection procedure,” he said, as quoted by SITA, adding that both domestic and foreign companies had expressed an interest.
The final decision on whether to proceed with the rental will be made by the government at its next session, SITA wrote.
