OREANDA-NEWS. November 16, 2010. At the meeting with journalists President of Le Bridge corporation Franck Arif noted that in January, when the first DutyFree shop opened in Leuseni, the turnover per month amounted to 15 thousand Euros.

At the beginning of the year two more shops opened in Cahul and Sculeni, and by August the turnover of three DutyFree shops of Le Bridge corporation reached 700 thousand Euros per month. By now 10 million Euros in tote have been invested in the opening of DutyFree shops. According to Franck Arif, the company prepared for opening a shop at the Chisinau International Airport and in Costesti, however because of judicial proceedings these shops can’t be opened yet.

As to Le Bridge DutyFree at the airport, the corporation’s lawyer Ion Paduraru communicated that the judgment on removal of all bans for activity of this shop was received on Wednesday. Thus, in the near future, the company plans to prepare and open a shop at the airport. As it was reported before, Le Bridge DutyFree shop should have been opened at the airport a year ago – on November 10, 2009; however the company had been involved in the legal proceedings and prohibited from opening new DutyFree shops until the proceeding were finished. Franck Arif said to the journalists that the legal proceedings around the company caused serious damage both to the company and to the government.

SE Chisinau International Airport received near 3 million lei less as rental for 500 sq.m. area of Le Bridge DutyFree placement. According to Franck Arif, the expected turnover of the shop, after opening at the airport, is estimated at 700-800 thousand Euros per month. They also expect opening of a shop in Costesti.

The construction works of DutyFree in Giurgiulesti come to an end. Besides, three shops on the border with Ukraine will be reconstructed. According to Franck Arif, Le Bridge DutyFree shops in Moldova will attract foreign citizens due to enhanced direct supply of goods from producer, without intermediary of dealers.