Interview - Maja Brinar Frenkel

In Dubrovnik, people are only asking me ‘when the project on Srđ is starting'

We will not get tired; we are going to be an example that the most valuable Greenfield investments are possible in Croatia.

The wife of the rich Israeli investor Aaron Frenkel, Maja Brinar Frenkel considers the project on Srđ, worth more than a billion euro, hers ‘’life project’’.

Even though Golf Park Dubrovnik is developing in her own Country, Project is proceeding very slowly.You submitted for the Location permit, but you didn’t get support of the City Council for relocating the Homeland War Museum from the location inside of Fort Imperial into the location where the Antenna on Srđ is currently positioned. Are all those holdbacks frustrating for you?

The Project of this magnitude always has its challenges, but Golf Park Dubrovnik goes further! We are skipping the obstacles, one by one. We will not get tired, but we'll get to the finish line and be an example that investments are possible in Croatia, especially those ones who are important for development of the Country, Greenfield, who are starting from zero. We believe that we are going to start with the first stage of the Project in September 2015 and with the reconstruction of the Fortress, which should take 18 month, already in spring 2016. We submitted for the Location permit for overall Project area of 310 ha. I expect that we are going to get the location permit by the end of October. The most important thing for me is to have the support of the City of Dubrovnik and people of Dubrovnik. I believe that the majority of citizens support our Project, although you would not get that impression if you would inform yourself about the Project only by what is said on the City Council. The majority of people from Dubrovnik who I meet, are only asking me one question: When do you start? In regard to your question, I believe that some individuals manipulate with information’s because of their own business and other interests. In this case, that makes me especially sad because they are using Veterans from the Homeland War. I want to believe that this may be the issue of misunderstanding and ignorance of the facts.

When will the work start and where will be the location of the Museum at the end?

The Homeland War Museum is our priority and it stays in the Fort, which is obligation from the Concession Contract. We submitted for the Location permit and in good faith, our planners are preparing everything, in order to submit for the Building permit as soon as the location permit is issued. At the same time we are preparing a team and we will organize the positive contests for participation in the Project. I am surprised that no one wonders how the Museum is going to look like?  My goal is to be attractive, impressive, representative, multimedia space that will constantly live with new setups. I wish that every second visitor visits Museum, if not every visitor of Srđ, which are already counted in hundreds of thousands thanks to the cable car. My goal is that everyone says: ‘’Let’s go on Srđ to look at the City, to drink a cup of coffee and to see the Homeland War Museum.''

What is the condition of the Museum today?

Maybe every seventh visitor is visiting it. It is ruinous; some parts are opened contrary to Dubrovnik heritage department guidelines, there isn’t a toilet, there isn’t an access for disabled people….. I would like the Museum to be larger than today, concretely on 500 square meters, with representative entrance, reception…. We are discussing where it is going to be? Leave it to the professionals of the Heritage department and architects. I repeat, the Homeland War Museum is my priority and I want it to  be more attractive, more impressive, with  multimedia area which lives and draws tens of thousands of visitors. For me that kind of Museum is real remembrance for all Homeland War Veterans.

There is no more doubt in realization of the Project even from the side of civil association ‘’Srđ je naš’’. They say, because the Frenkel family is influential and has connection in every political option everybody are ready to faveour them. Is that correct?

We are trying to realize the Project from 2007. So much for the favoring issue.

For the ex-Minister of tourism Veljko Ostojic, Project was the real estate business, and for the current Minister, Project is a valid touristic project. At the end, what is going to be in first plan?

Project Golf Park Dubrovnik is going to have a unique offer in Dubrovnik and in this part of Mediterranean. Apart from real estate, the Project contains a number of other sports and touristic features. I believe that Golf Park Dubrovnik is going to become one of the most successful projects of this type and that is going to be an example to others. I hope that after this project, there will be more similar projects on Croatian coast, but also in the continental part of Croatia. Concretely, for Dubrovnik, we will offer multiple offers. People from Dubrovnik will get cycling paths, promenades, riding trails, and the huge nature park, golf and others sports contents. Dubrovnik cries for a stage that could attract international stars, for tourists and for people from Dubrovnik also, and they will get it by building an amphitheater on Srđ.

You once said, that you were particularly troubled because the Association of architects didn’t receive this Project well, you wanted to contact with them, is it established?

During the development of project documentation there was plenty discussion with the Association of architects. Some of which are professional and some of artistic nature. I accept both sides and consider them to be very useful for the Project and for its best result. We are striving to incorporate expert comments and artistic ones are always considered. Everyone has a right on its own impression and vision. We want to build something that would be on top standards with quality and quantity. I hear that Hotel Belveder is reconstructing and that they are planning rooms of more than 75 m2 in average. It makes me happy that someone else wants to bring high standards and new forms of touristic offer to Dubrovnik which is now missing, in order to really have 5 stars guests. I am really happy when I hear that the other projects are progressing, because that is a sign that the things are moving in Croatia, and that means better tomorrow for all of us and our children also.

Who will be tenants, at least temporary, during summer, of luxury villas in thousands sqm with pools, wineries……. and who will be golfers and the guests of the hotels?

Tenants and users of the villas will be determined by market, but I believe that this successful and unique product will attract high quality clients. Golf, but also other contents surely will be added value to the villa owners, and also to the others visitors of Dubrovnik.

From the beginning of idea till now, almost a decade has passed. What is the optimistic scenario about the opening date and will this complex truly enable the employment of thousands of people?

Realization of the Project Golf Park Dubrovnik will contribute in new jobs, knowledge and ideas for well-being to all of us and it will be a chance for employment lots of citizens and it will be business opportunity for many Croatian’s companies and businessman also. I believe that the number of people who will benefit from the Project will be more than thousand and that the concrete contribution of this project will be seen soon after the end of the first stage of the Project.

Do you regret that you are facing with resistance in your own country and was the giving up an option at some point?

In every business there are daily impediments and challenges. We remove them daily; we are solving problems and move on the realization of our vision. I strongly believe in Croatia and Croatian people, and we demonstrate that with our investment in Dubrovnik and that will be the successful story from Croatia. In some way I am proud that we are making way for new investments and better tomorrow.

Radmila Kovačić

Source: Večernji list, 31.08.2015.

http://www.vecernji.hr/kompanije-i-trzista/u-dubrovniku-me-pitaju-samo-kada-srd-krece-1021987