Q:
A:
Final deal with contractor for Zemun–Borca Bridge to be signed by end-week
Belgrade,
8 April 2010
Minister for the National Investment Plan Verica Kalanovic announced that the contract for the construction of the Zemun–Borca Bridge will be signed with China’s Roads and Bridges Company by the end of the week.
Author:
www.novosti.rs
In an interview for today’s edition of the Vecernje Novosti daily, Kalanovic affirmed that after two months of intensive talks, agreement has been finally reached with Chinese partners.
She recalled that this is a €170 million deal, adding that the project, deadlines, supervision and even the possibility of additional expenses have all been set out in detail.
According to Kalanovic, Belgrade will get a beautiful new bridge within three years, while after two years 21 kilometres of access roads and two intricate cloverleaf intersections will be completed.
The Minister said that early in June a financial agreement will be finalised with Eksim Bank, thanks to which Serbia will be granted a favourable loan, similar to the ones it received from international financial institutions.
Kalanovic confirmed that the works will begin in summer, adding that the first results on the left bank of the Danube will already be visible this year, while the construction of access roads will commence next year.
She said that the Chinese initially came out with costs of over €300 million, but after talks lasting several months the price was brought down to €170 million. The participation of Serbian companies will be increased from 10% to 45%, which is favourable since it implies hiring domestic work staff.
The largest portion of the funds from the sale of Telekom should be invested in infrastructure, that is, in projects that will attract investment, increase the number of jobs and raise the standard of living, she said.
This primarily refers to investment in modern roads leading to all larger towns, the Minister specified.
She also said that there can be no investment without good infrastructure, announcing the formation of a special budgetary fund for infrastructure development, as well as for the economy and other remits.
The government is debating the construction of new, modern roads of regional importance that will have two lanes in each direction, she said.
For instance, one of the priorities is the Pojate–Preljina road, a 107.2 kilometre section with only one lane in each direction, along which 476,000 people live. Our priorities are sections from Ruma to Sabac, Paracin to Zajecar, the motorway to Prokuplje and the road from Belgrade to the border with Romania. The Belgrade–South Adriatic motorway will also be partly financed from the Telekom sale, she added.
She recalled that this is a €170 million deal, adding that the project, deadlines, supervision and even the possibility of additional expenses have all been set out in detail.
According to Kalanovic, Belgrade will get a beautiful new bridge within three years, while after two years 21 kilometres of access roads and two intricate cloverleaf intersections will be completed.
The Minister said that early in June a financial agreement will be finalised with Eksim Bank, thanks to which Serbia will be granted a favourable loan, similar to the ones it received from international financial institutions.
Kalanovic confirmed that the works will begin in summer, adding that the first results on the left bank of the Danube will already be visible this year, while the construction of access roads will commence next year.
She said that the Chinese initially came out with costs of over €300 million, but after talks lasting several months the price was brought down to €170 million. The participation of Serbian companies will be increased from 10% to 45%, which is favourable since it implies hiring domestic work staff.
The largest portion of the funds from the sale of Telekom should be invested in infrastructure, that is, in projects that will attract investment, increase the number of jobs and raise the standard of living, she said.
This primarily refers to investment in modern roads leading to all larger towns, the Minister specified.
She also said that there can be no investment without good infrastructure, announcing the formation of a special budgetary fund for infrastructure development, as well as for the economy and other remits.
The government is debating the construction of new, modern roads of regional importance that will have two lanes in each direction, she said.
For instance, one of the priorities is the Pojate–Preljina road, a 107.2 kilometre section with only one lane in each direction, along which 476,000 people live. Our priorities are sections from Ruma to Sabac, Paracin to Zajecar, the motorway to Prokuplje and the road from Belgrade to the border with Romania. The Belgrade–South Adriatic motorway will also be partly financed from the Telekom sale, she added.
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