|
The new islands would make up around a quarter of a development
project the size of 420 soccer fields in total. Construction
could begin in 2022 and the project could be fully functional by
2040.
The government expects it to attract up to 380 new businesses
and create 12,000 jobs, adding more than $8 billion to the
economy, equivalent to 2.5 percent of GDP.
"We will stand stronger in international competition to attract
business, investment and highly qualified labor" with the
project, interior minister Simon Emil Ammitzboll-Bille said in a
statement. "That could contribute to growth and development not
just in the capital area but in all of Denmark."
The proposal must still be approved by parliament. Business
minister Rasmus Jarlov told reporters at a press briefing that
the government expected the project to be self financed in part
by selling lots on the islands.
One of the nine islands will house a plant converting waste from
the capital to bio gas, cleaning waste water and storing green
energy from windmills. Others will have space for industrial
companies.
Copenhagen is located across two main islands, Zealand and
Amager, and has already been expanded numerous times with the
construction of small artificial islands.
In October last year Denmark also proposed building an island
near Copenhagen's harbor to create more space for the city's
growing population.
(Reporting by Emil Gjerding Nielson; Editing by Toby Chopra and
Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
