President Klaus opened a new pavilion at the České Budějovice exhibition grounds

České Budějovice - The covered exhibition area of the České Budějovice exhibition center has doubled. The President of the Republic Václav Klaus today opened Pavilion T at the inauguration of the agricultural salon Země živitelka. It covers an area of 6050 square meters and cost the exhibition center a.s. 188 million crowns. It is particularly interesting for its multifunctionality, as it will also host cultural and sports events. Its construction began in December. For six days, it was occupied by food producers for the first time.
     According to the chairwoman of the board and director of the company Marcela Payerová, the exhibition center has lacked adequate covered spaces for years, and with modern facilities, it can now better compete. "This means we will be able to operate other activities as well. It concerns conferences, congresses, and various cultural and social as well as sports activities. At Země živitelka, we dedicated it to our significant sector, which has emerged only in recent years, specifically food, particularly regional food," said Payerová to ČTK.
     The company funded the investment without a subsidy. In the past, it sold unnecessary assets, mainly land, and worked with the cash generated. The annual profit from the rents of Pavilion T is expected to amount to millions according to studies. The exhibition center plans to present it independently in November.
     The company does not plan further expansion of exhibition spaces, but by 2013 it will revitalize an eighteen-hectare park located in its premises. The costs will amount to 16.3 million, of which 10.1 will be covered by subsidies. A total of 330 trees and 700 square meters of bushes will be planted.
     Since 1960, the area of the České Budějovice exhibition center, which was managed by the Park of Culture and Relaxation, has hosted regional agricultural exhibitions, and for 38 years, the international fair Země živitelka. In 1981, it came under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture. Fifteen years later, it was privatized. The majority owner of the exhibition center is the Supporting and Guarantee Agricultural and Forestry Fund. The area spans 25 hectares. There are a total of 20 pavilions in the forest park. Last year, the company reported a profit of ten million and organized around 20 events. Approximately 230,000 visitors attended them, nearly half at Země živitelka.