Norwegians are building skyscraper in Murmansk
Photo: e24.no
A group of Norwegian investors are planning to build a giant skyscraper in the centre of Murmansk. Fuelled by money from the oil and gas development, Murmansk is now experiencing a gas-boom.
With Norwegian real estate investor, Olav Thon, as one of the leading men, a group of Norwegian investors are planning to realise a project of gigantic proportions in Murmansk, called Arctic Arena. And all the plans are due to the prosperous expectations related to the Shtokman development.
General Manager for Arctic Arena, Birger Johnsen, says to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang that without the large plans at the Shtokman field, they would never have started this project. The plan is to finish the 350 million Euro project within 2011. The shopping mal area will alone cover 30 000 square meters and reach over three floors. This will give the growing Russian middle class more than enough space to shop.
Johnsen says that the misconception of Russians as poor must change. The wages are rising and so is the welfare of the Russian society. In Murmansk alone there are now more than 100 000 cars. After a decade in the shadow of old communist times, Murmansk is now about to shake away the misery of old times. With oil and gas as economic fuel, Northwest Russia is rising towards new heights.
The modernising of Murmansk Harbour will alone cost 5 billion Euros. A lot of Norwegians wants to be part of this boom, and the investor group that Johnsens represents is one of them.
Read more about the project at Arcticarena.ru
