The Press House is used as premises for companies that provide different kind of services – from legal and notary services and business consulting to tourism, trade and public catering. There is even a dentist’s office located here. This institution could rather be called a business center than the house of free press.

The Press House, a company managed by the State Chancery of the Government since 1994 is used as premises (leased in space) by 171 legal entities. Only 27% of them are media companies – 44 periodicals and two news agencies. The media outlets that rent one or more offices include the weeklies Ziarul de Gardă, Ziarul Național, Florile Dalbe, Făclia, the magazines VIP Magazin, Odoraș, Urma Ta, Russian language publication such as Şans, Kommersant Info, Expert Novostei or specialized publications – Legea şi viaţa, Tainele sănătăţii, Business Liga. The press agency IPN also has its premises here.

Media outlets rent 1,454 square meters of the total of 9,926.8 square meters, which is the total area of the building. The other 127 legal entities occupy an area of nearly 2.5 times higher – 3,704 square meters. These include about 100 business companies, four foundations, 20 lawyers (including an associated legal office), and a notary.

Spaces of nearly 2,353 square meters have been assigned for economic management or privatization gradually between 1998 and 2004. According to the Land Registry data, in 1998, 1,676 square meters became the property of the State Company State Information Agency Moldpres, that subsequently rented out space to the Young Talent Association of Moldova “VIMIS” and to Rock Platinum SRL (the Albion club).

Two years later, based on a sale and purchase agreement, other 299.6 square meters of the Press House are assigned into the property of Compania-Dekart SRL that deals with the development of information protection software. Then the space becomes the property of the mixed company “COM DH”. At present, 106 square meters of this area have been rented out to Pegas for five years under an agreement signed in 2013.

In 2002, several rooms in the Press House, with the total area of 308.1 square meters, from the state ownership are transferred into the economic management of Cartea-Chişinău SA, after a decision has been issued on the formation of the real estate by division into spaces. In 2004, other 70.4 square meters are transferred into the management of Moldpres Agency through a Government decision. In the same year, the building is set as collateral with Banca de Economii, under a mortgage contract in the amount of MDL 290,000 for a two year term.

At present, several tens of offices with the area of nearly 2,080 square meters are free and awaiting their tenants.

Profit of over one million lei in 2014

The rent for business operators differs from year to year. In 2015, they pay 11 euros per square meter. The contracts are renewed each year.

In 2014, the biggest revenues to the treasury of the Press House were brought by the night club ”Sargon” (Ninevia SRL) – nearly 1.5 million lei (circa 118,000 lei per month, for circa 850 square meters on the first floor); the two ”Gălbenuş” cafeterias (Vijelios SRL) – over 1.5 million lei (nearly 120,000 lei monthly for 719 square meters, including basement and warehouses); the bagel shop ”La Mămuca” (Alexandra Stropşa SRL) – nearly 35,000 lei monthly for a space of 122 square meters; the grocery store ”Pegas” (Pegas SRL) – 16,622 lei monthly for 54 square meters; the night club ”Albion” (Rock Platinum SRL) – 12,286 lei per month for  78.8 square meters. The foundation Logistic-Media that occupies over 168 square meters on the third floor has brought revenues of 137,400 lei to the Press House.

The media outlets pay a much smaller tariff – in 2014 it accounted for circa 68 lei per square meter. The rate in this case is calculated according to the Law on the State Budget for the respective year, using a special formula. According to the data provided by the accounting office of the Press House, the periodicals last year paid between 500 lei and a little beyond 6,000 lei per month.

”We do not select. If someone wants the space and it is available, we rent it out. The price sometimes can be negotiated but absolutely every document goes through the State Chancery. The lease agreement does not have value without its stamp,” specifies Andrei Urmaş, administrator of the Press House since 2013.

Last year, from the leasing of space, the company made a profit of 1,077,121 lei (almost double compared to 2008), of which exactly half arrived into the state budget. The biggest revenues were registered in 2011 – over two million lei, and subsequently they started to fall. Andrei Urmaş says that profits do not increase by themselves and that one works hard for this: “If you want to grow, you must offer something attractive, you must have what to offer to the business company.” There are problems in this regard. The building has not been overhauled since it was built. Therefore, the administrator explains, he started repairing the roof immediately after having taken his position. The hall on the ground floor followed. ”We are now renovating the offices, to the extent possible, and we want to continue at the same pace in the next years,” the manager adds.