prijava
SARAJEVO, February 27 (FENA) - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Finance and Treasury Vjekoslav Bevanda and European Investment Bank (EIB) Director for Slovenia, Croatia and the Western Balkans Mateo Rivellini signed a Financing Agreement in Sarajevo today on the construction of two sections of the motorway on the Corridor Vc.
Bevanda said at a press conference that EUR 140 million have been secured, as a loan from the European Investment Bank intended for the construction of a 6.9 kilometer Tarčin-Ivan motorway section, on the route from Sarajevo to Mostar.
As the works are demanding, they include the construction of the Ivan tunnel and two viaducts on that section.
The second part of the funds will be directed to the section Poprikuša - Nemila in the Zenica-Doboj Canton with a total length of 5.5 kilometers, with a 3.6-kilometer two-pipe tunnel also to be built.
“We do not need to emphasize how important each kilometer of the motorway on the Corridor Vc is. That is why we are grateful to the European Investment Bank that they have recognized such important projects. Completion of the construction of the Tarčin-Ivan section is expected by 2022, and the works on the Poprikuša-Nemila section by 2023,” said Bevanda.
He also stated that the loan was allocated to the Federation of BiH, and the beneficiary is the Public Enterprise the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Motorways. The terms of the loan are favorable, with a repayment period of 25 years, including a grace period of six years. The interest is fixed or variable, agreed before each installment is paid.
The EIB Director for Slovenia, Croatia and the Western Balkans Mateo Rivellini singled out the Corridor Vc as one of the most important infrastructure projects in BiH.
He pointed out that the EIB has so far contributed to the construction of 82 kilometers of the motorway and is ready for further partnerships with local authorities. The total amount of money (through loans and grants) provided by the EIB exceeded EUR 2.7 billion.
Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Johann Sattler, explains that building a motorway means shorter travel times, increased traffic safety, and reduced levels of air pollution, which is especially important for major industrial cities. This means better trade links with neighbors and the EU as well, which will lead to new jobs.
He says nearly half of the entire section of the Corridor Vc has been completed or is in the process of being built, and he used the opportunity to call for acceleration in the work dynamic on the remaining sections.
“We can and must improve the overall dynamic. We discussed this with the prime ministers, we will soon organize a meeting which will be attended by departmental ministers, representatives of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,” said Sattler and added that, ultimately, this is what citizens expect.
(FENA) S. R.
