Expo pavilion gets started

RIGA - The Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIDA) transferred the first advance payment to the company Aerodium for construction of the Latvian pavilion and vertical wind tunnel at the World Expo 2010, reports news portal Nozare.lv. A LIDA report presented to the government on Jan. 19 says that LIDA made the payment after DnB Nord bank underwrote it, on Jan. 5.
LIDA Public Relations Department head Vineta Vilistere Lace says that construction of the Latvian pavilion for the expo, to be held in Shanghai, has already begun. Aerodium, contracted for 2.55 million lats (3.6 million euros) by LIDA to build the pavilion and wind tunnel and to maintain these facilities, expects to open the pavilion by April 24.

Although construction of the pavilion has already begun, there is still much uncertainty regarding the funds necessary for the project, as the Corruption Prevention Bureau has concluded that there is no legal justification for donations by the Freeport of Riga Authority, originally one of the sponsors for the project, and that the authority can only use the port’s money for management and development of the Riga Freeport and its infrastructure.

Nevertheless, Economy Minister Artis Kampars (New Era) has promised that Latvia will take part in World Expo 2010. Moreover, successful presentation of Latvia there “is a government priority,” he said.
Kampars called participation in the fair “a matter of prestige.” He said that he does not see any possibility of withdrawing because the state has already invested major funds. “Besides, we promised organizers that we would participate,” he added.