“The opening of Shopping Malldova is an important contribution that our city have more European air,” Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca stated on Wednesday, November 12, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Moldovan first large retail complex. The mayor said that the investment of over 50 million euro in building this center is more than a half of the Chisinau budget, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I would be happy that such retail centers are built in Chisinau, as in other parts of Moldova, so that our citizens have conditions to go shopping, relax, conditions suitable for the time we live in. We are all proud that Moldova, Chisinau, step by step, choose all that is modern and contemporary,” the mayor stated. Dorin Chirtoaca thanked the ICS Lemi Invest, the Shopping Malldova’s developer, “for the courage to have been working for many years in Moldova, proving that a transition country can get good results”. “Staring now, this company could be a consultant and partner for other investors, who would like to come to Moldova,” the mayor added. Atilla Sanci, the deputy director of Leogrant SRL, said that this project was achieved in cooperation with the Anchor Grup, which is experienced in the real estate development in Romania, especially in retail projects. “After 7 years of Moldova’s presence on the real estate market we have decided to make this investment. This proves our confidence in the future of this country and its people,” Sanci said. Radu Tanasescu, the operational director of Anchor Grup, emphasized that during projecting and building Shopping Malldova they took into consideration the experience of both companies on the real estate market from Moldova and Romania. He expressed his hope that in a short time this retail complex will become a primary destination for shopping and entertaining for the Chisinau inhabitants and visitors. Shopping Malldova has an area of 70 thousand square meters, including 25 thousand square meters of leased area, with over 100 shops, a supermarket, a part of the international chain Fourchette, which stretches on 2,300 square meters, a multiplex cinema with 6 screens, interactive electronic games, a bowling alley, a playground for children, and other leisure options. The movement of the visitors up and down will be enabled by 4 escalators, panoramic lifts and stairs for each floor, and running belts between the subway parking lot and the ground floor. Shopping Malldova will offer 750 subway parking lots, Vinceniu Spataru, general director of Lemi Invest SA said. He also added that the retail complex would bring under one roof new brands, that would open their first shop in Chisinau. Among them: Debenhams, Rock& Roll, Bowling, Diverta, Forever 18, Koton, Lacoste, Pennyblack, Irina Schotter, Fox, Samsonite, Mothercare, Olsen, Sacoor Broters, Polo Garage, House of Art, Kenvelo, Otter , Bigotti, Swarovski BSB, Nana Camicie, Calvin Klein, Pepe Jeans, Little Big, Swatch. Vincentiu Spataru also said that the first traffic is expected to have 17- 20 thousand clients per day. The shops will offer various pocket products. The number of jobs will reach 5,000. Shopping Malldova will begin its work on November 15. The joint venture Lemi Invest SA is a joint society with Leogrant SRL that works on the Moldovan real estate market since 2001 and Anchor Grup Romania, a part of the Fiba Holding companies, experienced in retail, financial services and the real estate development. The important parts of Leogrant SRL are the Leogrand hotel and the Crown Plaza Residence.