Trade fair president furious

Klagenfurt has no money for the lighthouse project

This is what the visualization of the new congress center in Klagenfurt looks like.(Bild: Moesslacher Julia Rebecca)

Messe Klagenfurt President Harald Kogler is slowly losing his temper. For a year and a half, he has been fighting for funding for the new congress center that is to be built on the exhibition grounds. The arena, which the local economy urgently needs, will cost 18 to 20 million euros. Most of the financing is in place, but the city of Klagenfurt has not given the go-ahead.

Klagenfurt has been dreaming of a new congress center for many years. There has been talk of a new building, but that is too expensive. Messe Klagenfurt President Harald Kogler has the perfect solution with the restructuring of Exhibition Hall 5, but the city of all places is forever chasing after the Hirsch CEO when it comes to financing. The project costs 18 to 20 million euros, half of which the trade fair wants to raise itself. The rest is to be shared between the state and the city. While Martin Gruber, Vice President of the Province of Klagenfurt, has already pledged a share of five million euros, Philipp Liesnig, Klagenfurt's Finance Officer, is being coy.

"We still have a date for talks. I don't know why Liesnig is keeping us in suspense for so long," says Kogler. The start of construction was actually planned for this year. When the Koralm Railway goes into operation in 2025, the congress center should be a lighthouse project for the city that radiates beyond its borders. To achieve this, exhibition hall 5 would have to be extended as far as St. Ruprechter Straße. The congress halls and conference rooms in the 11,500-square-meter hall are designed to accommodate 2,000 to 3,000 visitors. "The original schedule can no longer be adhered to," regrets Kogler.

The tender and architectural competition need time. "It will take at least two and a half years until completion," says Kogler. The trade fair president does not understand why Klagenfurt is not quite getting up to speed with regard to the Koralm Railway. "The Styrians are perfectly positioned. The distances are shorter, you only need 45 minutes from Klagenfurt to Graz. It's an opportunity for the economy." Kogler hopes that the financing of the congress center can be fixed soon. "Many parties in Klagenfurt are also in favor of this." Whether tourism contributes or not should not play a role.