Montenegro Government, Chinese companies: Bar-Boljare motorway construction to start soon

Podgorica, Montenegro (23 December 2013) – Representatives of the Government of Montenegro and a group of seven Chinese infrastructure companies (led by China International Contractors Association – CHINCA) agreed, together with the Chinese EXIM Bank representative, on a concrete set of activities aimed towards a soon commencement of the Bar-Boljare motorway construction.

The two delegations arranged to set up a central working body for coordination of projects, and the EXIM Bank agreed to support the project development. Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister Vujica Lazović noted the working body will comprise representatives of a number of institutions, and Finance Minister Radoje Žugić informed the Chinese side of Montenegro’s macro-economic indicators and the activities on requesting the loan from the EXIM Bank. He and Transport Minister Ivan Brajović noted that Montenegro’s intention is to have the construction of the priority section of the route (Smokovac-Uvač-Mateševo) start as soon as possible.

Minister Brajović welcomed the fact that several agreements needed for the start of the project will be signed soon (in particular the agreement on cooperation in infrastructure, the framework agreement, and the commercial agreement with CCCC and CRBC)

Chinese officials welcomed the fact that Montenegro chose Chinese companies CCCC and CRBC as best bidders for this important project for Montenegro, and noted that a number of Chinese companies expressed an interest in transport, railway, and energy industries in Montenegro.

Deputy Prime Minister Lazović praised good bilateral cooperation between the two countries and accepted on behalf of Montenegro the invitation for the international financial and construction forum due to take place in May 2014 in Macao.