<p>The decision regarding Amazon has not been made, the council is preparing an amendment to the contract with CTP.</p>

Brno - The construction of a giant warehouse for the American online retailer Amazon in Brno is still undecided. Brno city councilors approved today a plan that allows for an addition to the already approved contract with the development company CTP Invest. The city council is expected to approve it at an extraordinary meeting on February 14, as requested by CTP. At the same time, this is intended to open the way to approving a contract between the city and the Directorate of Roads and Highways (ŘSD) for the construction of a highway exit into the industrial zone, said Deputy Mayor Oliver Pospíšil (ČSSD) to ČTK.
    Mayor Roman Onderka confirmed to ČTK that he will convene the extraordinary meeting of the city council. By Monday, Amazon is also expected to comment on the current situation, as a representative of theirs attended today’s council meeting. Originally, the company wanted to wait only until the end of January. “We also negotiated today with CTP. Representatives of all political clubs were invited to the meeting concerning the extraordinary council. We will discuss the exact wording of the contract addition at the council next week,” said Pospíšil.
    The new Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy, Andrej Babiš, is interested in Amazon's investment in the Czech Republic. At today’s introduction to office, he told reporters that the state should “finally” be accommodating to foreign investors. He reminded that if Amazon does not build a center in the Czech Republic, it would rather invest in Poland or Slovakia.
    In the current contract between the city and CTP, the developer has committed to pay 214 million crowns for the land for the Amazon warehouse. An additional 56 million crowns would be paid for transport measures before the construction of the highway exit and also for assistance with land acquisitions for this construction. However, some council members found this insufficient, which is why they did not approve the contract with the ŘSD last week. This contract is, in fact, a condition for the sale of land to CTP.
    Opponents of the construction point to the unbearable traffic situation in the Slatina district, which will be further worsened by additional trucks. The highway exit, however, may not be completed until at least 2017.
    Amazon intends to open the Brno distribution center in September to serve the pre-Christmas market. At least 1500 people are expected to find work there, and even more before Christmas. However, it does not want to wait too long, certainly not until March 18, when a regular council meeting is scheduled. Earlier this week, a representative of the developer HB Reavis stated that they offered an alternative option, which is a large industrial zone Eurovalley near Bratislava along the highway towards Brno.
    Problems are also accompanying the planned construction of Amazon's warehouse near Dobrovíz near Prague, where the Central Bohemian Region has already gotten involved. It has prepared a memorandum that all interested parties should join in to find a compromise solution.