Montenegro and China sign amendments to agreement on enhancing cooperation in infrastructure construction

Podgorica, Montenegro (14 February 2014) – Montenegro’s Transport Minister Ivan Brajović and Chinese Ambassador Zhi Zaolin signed earlier today amendments to the Agreement on enhancing cooperation in infrastructure construction. The agreement will be the starting point for all further legal actions that will create conditions for the construction of the priority section of the Bar – Boljare highway (Smokovac - Uvač - Mateševo).

Amendments to the Agreement, which was signed on 23 June 2011, are related to capital infrastructure projects, notably the construction of the highway’s priority section.

Ambassador Zaolin said this agreement represents the first step towards finalisation of a set of documents that will lead to the start of works on the Smokovac-Uvač- Mateševo route. He pointed out that teams from both countries are working hard in order to harmonise and prepare all the necessary documentation for the implementation of the major project.

Montenegro's Transport Minister Ivan Brajović confirmed that all procedures as regards the drafting of the documents are under control and that all the stakeholders’ efforts in these negotiations will be focused on compliance deadlines.

He added that the signing of the Framework Agreement which has been initialled, as well as the Agreement on the project design and construction (also initialled) follow. Signing of the financing agreement, which is being negotiated, and adoption of the Law on the Highway, which is being drafted, by the Parliament of Montenegro are the next steps towards the start of the Montenegrin top priority development project's implementation, Minister Brajović told the press following the signing ceremony.