The AKTOR Group has taken pole position in the race for the major redevelopment of the Thessaloniki International Fair, emerging as the top bidder in the financial offers stage, pushing METKA into second place. The unsealing of financial bids for the €165 million (excluding VAT) project has reshaped the competitive landscape of a tender that attracted six construction consortia and represents one of the most significant urban regeneration interventions planned for Thessaloniki.
AKTOR Group takes the lead in bids for the major Thessaloniki Fair redevelopment
AKTOR submitted the highest discount offer, coming in at 31%, giving the company a clear advantage over its rivals for the construction of the new exhibition and conference centre for TIF-Helexpo. METKA follows at a distance of 2.5 percentage points, with a proposed discount of 28.5%, reflecting the fierce competition between the two companies for the contract. The gap widens considerably when comparing the top two bids with those of the remaining participants. The MESOGEIOS–TRITON joint venture offered a discount of just over 17%, while AVAX came in at 14%. TERNA followed with 11%, with EKTER rounding out the rankings, having submitted a financial offer with a discount of 7.4%.
The picture emerging from the unsealing of bids places AKTOR in a strong position, though the outcome of the tender has yet to be formally decided. The designation of a contractor is subject to the completion of mandatory checks and confirmation that all conditions of the tendering process have been met. Provided no obstacles arise at the subsequent stages, the announcement of a provisional contractor will follow, leading to final contract award.
Next steps and the timeline through to 2030
The completion of the evaluation process represents the next critical milestone in advancing an investment that aims to transform both the exhibition centre itself and a significant stretch of Thessaloniki’s urban fabric. The TIF redevelopment has secured public funding of €204.6 million including VAT, channelled through the National Development Programme 2026–2030. The tender is being managed by the Strategic Contracts Unit of Growthfund, with the goal of completing all required procedures and moving the project into the construction phase.
Following the designation of a contractor, the process will proceed through contract award, pre-contractual review, and the signing of the relevant agreement. These steps will determine the precise timeline for the contractor’s mobilisation on site and the commencement of works. Based on current planning, construction activity is expected to begin during 2027, with the completion of the redevelopment set for the end of 2030. This timeline is tied both to the smooth progression of the tendering process and to the specific construction requirements of the project, given that the Thessaloniki International Fair must remain fully operational throughout the duration of the works.
How the Thessaloniki Fair site will be transformed
At the heart of the plan is the creation of a modern exhibition and conference complex that will replace a substantial portion of the existing facilities, while simultaneously upgrading the infrastructure that supports trade fairs and large-scale business events. The new TIF will include two exhibition buildings with a combined floor area of approximately 43,000 square metres, built to contemporary technical specifications and capable of hosting a wide range of events. A significant component of the project also concerns the “Ioannis Vellidis” Conference Centre, which is set to be renovated and upgraded in terms of energy efficiency to meet current demands of the conference market. Beyond the built facilities, the project holds particular significance for the daily life of the city, as it provides for the creation of extensive open public spaces and new infrastructure. Central to the design is the development of a Metropolitan Park of approximately 120 acres, which aspires to deliver a new green lung at the heart of Thessaloniki.
The plans also include the construction of underground car parks and the redesign of shared public areas, with the aim of better integrating the exhibition complex with the surrounding city and improving accessibility. One of the key construction challenges is that the redevelopment will be carried out without interrupting the operation of the Thessaloniki International Fair. To this end, implementation has been planned in successive phases, allowing works to proceed in parallel with the continuation of exhibition activity. This requirement adds a further layer of complexity to the undertaking, as it demands careful coordination of construction works with the schedule of exhibitions and conferences. With AKTOR’s financial offer leading the field, attention now turns to the conclusion of the tender process. The outcome will determine which construction group will be entrusted with delivering one of the most ambitious urban interventions of the coming years, as Thessaloniki looks forward to a new landmark exhibition venue and an expansive green public space at its centre.
