EBRD offers massive expansion of motorways in Bosnia and Herzegovina

26. February 2018by ficba

Investment programme of over €700 million envisaged by 2020

The EBRD is offering a massive increase in its support for the development and modernisation of the road infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed today between the EBRD and the Ministers of Transport and Communications of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS), outlines an investment programme of over €700 million for the period 2018-2020.

Expanding the country’s road infrastructure and building modern motorways is a key requirement for the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its economy with the region and strengthening links with western Europe. Improving connectivity is of critical importance for the Western Balkans economic convergence.

The planned investment programme includes:

With JP Autoceste FBiH:
€˘ the section of Corridor Vc from Poprikuse to Nemila
€˘ the tunnel Ivan on Corridor Vc
€˘ the section of Corridor Vc from the Mostar South interchange to Tunnel Kvanj
€˘ the section of Corridor Vc from Karuse to the inter-entity boundary line in Tunnel Putnikovo Brdo
€˘ the section of Corridor Vc between Tunnel Ivan and Mostar South interchange.

With JP Autoputevi RS:
€˘ the section of Corridor Vc from Rudanka to the inter-entity boundary line in Tunnel Putnikovo Brdo
€˘ the section of Corridor Vc from Vukosavlje to Podnovlje.

EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti said: “We are very pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding today. After the recent breakthrough at the political level we are now ready to deliver the projects which have been under preparation for some time and which are overdue for the future prosperity of the country. With these roads Bosnia and Herzegovina will move closer to where it belongs – the centre of Europe. €ť

Denis Lasić, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Federation of BiH, said: “The signing of the memorandum reconfirms our joint goal, which is to create the preconditions for the implementation of capital infrastructure projects in BiH and to continuously and persistently work on the economic development of the country. €ť

Nedjo Trninić, Minister of Transport and Communications of Republika Srpska, added: “Republika Srpska is committed to the development of infrastructure projects, and the support of the EBRD is very important for the implementation of these projects. This memorandum confirms the excellent cooperation that has been developed over the years between our government and the EBRD.”

Christian Danielsson, Director General DG NEAR – Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission underlines: “The European Commission welcomes this MoU between the EBRD and Bosnia and Herzegovina and stands ready to provide further EU grant funding for this important connection. In this perspective, the European Commission has already committed around €100 million since 2015. €ť

Since the beginning of its operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EBRD has invested more than €2.1 billion in over 146 projects in the country. The Bank focuses on supporting restructuring and expansion of the local private sector, forging closer links with wider regional markets and promoting a more efficient and sustainable use of resources.

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