PM Marković meets CRBC Chairman: Shan promises that motorway construction will meet deadline

Podgorica, Montenegro ( 4 July 2017) -- Construction of the first section of the Bar-Boljare motorway from Podgorica to Mateševo will be completed on time in a quality manner and in line with the highest safety standards, Head of the Chinese company CRBC Lu Shan said at today's meeting with Prime Minister Duško Marković.

Agreeing with the Prime Minister that this is a project of two governments and two nations, Mr Shan noted that out of 200 projects his company is implementing around the world, this one in Montenegro is among the priorities

He announced that presence of engineers and management on the ground will be strengthened and that additional labour force from Montenegro will be recruited in order to intensify the construction works, adding that special attention will be paid to protecting the environment.

PM Marković said he is extremely pleased with the dynamics of the works in 2017 and reiterated the expectation that EUR 194.3 million from the capital budget will be allocated for the motorway construction this year. He recalled that 16 building permits have been issued to date, and that another one is expected to be issued soon, thus creating conditions for having more machines and employees along the entire route.

Prime Minister announced that the Government is working on creating preconditions for continuing the construction of the motorway from Mateševo to the border with Serbia.

CRBC Chairman Lu Shan stated that his company has agreed with the Serbian authorities to build the motorway up to the border with Montenegro in order to connect it with Boljare on the territory of Montenegro. He emphasised the importance of this project not only for Montenegro and Serbia, but for the entire region of the Western Balkans as well.

According to Prime Minister Marković, the Government of Montenegro has plans for serious development of the infrastructure in terms road and railway transport, but pointed out that models need to be found not to jeopardise the efforts made by the Government in consolidating public finances. In that context, both sides considered the model of private-public partnership as positive one.

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER