The doctor -that’s how it’s called- Amir Ali Salemi is from Qatar i runs an investment fund based in London: JTA United Kingdom International Investment Holding Ltd. Last week he landed – he came by helicopter – in Andorra and wasted no time. Your representative in the country programmed him a very busy schedule of meetings with high officialsso high like the head of government himself. Assisted by Joan Viladomat, everything must be said. Because the focus is first and foremost on convincing him to invest in theiconica project at the head of the cursed port from the first day that funny decided to push it forward in 2016. Ten years have passed and the initiative remains stuck. Beyond Saetde’s demands, the covid, the common of Encamp and other minor setbacks, the reality is that this altitude recovery center – which is not a high performance sports center – is economically unviable as it is planned. at the head of theshareholder is Turi Mora (Bomosa) as the majority partner who, despite the rumors, in principle, has no intention of leaving the project. Next to him is Joan Viladomatwho went from complaining to entering as a partner and now leads the conversion of the Iconic as a business and the search for new shareholders with significant investment capacity. Because what was supposed to cost not yet twenty million euros, is now forty and rising. He has tried in the first place Clayton, the company of Higini Cierco Palau and Francesc Destree, which has conditioned its integration on knowing the financing plan. For now, then, to the expectation. Wow, you’re welcome. And this is where Ali Salemi comes into play with his background which, as explained on the website of JTA (Journey to Achievement –the path to success–), has interests, among others, in the tourism sector and also in sports.
Works in the Iconic center of Cap del Port d’Envalira, in the former Sud Ràdio d’Andorra. Video: Fernando Galindo
Hotel, and luxury
The plan to try to make viable theiconic is drawn as it was explained to the Qatari doctor during a lunch in his honor at the Pessons lake restaurant on Thursday the 8th. What it’s about, in short, is to stop marketing it as a center for elite athletes and open it up to all kinds of people. In practice, turn it into a luxury hotel at the foot of the slopes conditioned only on the economic capacity of the guestsan option that the business plan points to as the only alternative to not abandoning the adventure for good. This should not pose any problem in the legal field because the conditions of the concession do not prevent it. At the same time, they are asking for an extension of ten years, which they consider to have lost and which was not their responsibility. At the moment, the ministry is analyzing the documentation they have presented to support the requestalthough, according to close sources, they will be granted, leaving us in 2066. Salemi already knows the conditions and now we will have to wait for his answer, which if affirmative can alter the company’s corporate balance to the point of changing the majority. The work ahead is huge but the first thing whoever takes the reins should pay the 300,000 euros they owe to the municipality of Encamp and what do they have Laura Mas climbing the walls.
Expand through Europe
The aspirations of the Qatari doctor are aimed at a double objective: that ofland in Andorra and at the same time expand throughout Europe – the Brexit it has complicated his plans – and they also cover the sports field. This is how he explained it Xavier Spot and to the pair of ministers who were at the meeting held the same Thursday before Tiberius in Pessons. Ali Salemi nor he went alone. Apart from her husband in the country, she was accompanied by two people of Spanish nationality. He came up with two projects: building a stadium and buying a top-flight football team in the national league. The first intention was make the sports complex attached to the national stadiumidea that he they took out of his head while directing him towards the Football Federation who plans to make one at Encamp facilities. Incidentally, they advised him to consider the possibility of acquiring a club. It hasn’t been Andorra the first place where he has proposed these types of business, because he practically said the same thing months ago Gibraltar (it also moves through the Greek market). By those whims of fate, it turns out that Felix Alvarez (president of the FAF) coincided with the most responsible for the football of the rock. This gave him references ofAli Salemi of all kinds less flattering when commenting on the conversation. Time will tell, and so will the inquiries.
THE KEYS
- GIBRALTAR, GREECE AND NOW TURN TO THE PRINCIPALITY. The JTA fund opens a subsidiary in London as a gateway to Europe, but the Brexit has hindered their plans. Now looking to do business in Greece, Gibraltar i Andorra
- SETTING FOOT IN THE TOURIST SECTOR WITH THE ICONIC. Among the multiple investment fronts of the Qatari are the tourism sector and the rethinking of the project oficonic could fit into their goals.
- ACQUIRE A LEAGUE TEAM AND MAKE A PAVILION. Alis Salemi is an avowed lover of football and basketball, which is why he is exploring the possibility of buying a league team and building a stadium.
Amir Ali Salemi.
AN ENTREPRENEUR WITH MANY OPEN GAMES
Amir Ali Salemi is presented as PhD in Strategic Management established in Qatar. He is the founder and CEO of JTA International Investment Holdinga private international investment group created on 2010 and based in Doha. The company defines itself as a platform with interests in sectors such as energyinfrastructure, tourism, sports, transport, technology and health. It maintains activities and alliances in about fifty countries, according to JTA. Salemi tboth have British nationality.
