Serbia has great needs for new investments in infrastructure and economic development, and it is important that it procures funds for new projects from both the EU and other foreign partners, says Jadranka Joksimovic.
Minister for European Integration and National IPA Coordinator Jadranka Joksimovic says that Serbia, as a leader in the process of European Integration in the Western Balkans, has great needs for new investments in infrastructure and economic development, and that it is important to procure funds for new projects from both the EU and with other foreign partners.
Joksimovic points out that the EU is the most important economic, investment and development partner, and that only through the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans since 2014, it has provided about 182 million euros in grants for the preparation of documentation and implementation of infrastructure projects. She states that the total investment value of those infrastructure projects exceeds five billion euros.
However, Joksimovic points out, having in mind the needs and desire of our country to ensure accelerated and balanced development of all parts of Serbia, the current leadership is in daily contact with numerous countries and international financial organizations in order to determine an adequate source of funding in a long-term sustainable way, implementation model and dynamics of realization of priority infrastructure projects.
She added that a real example of that is the Nis-Merdare highway project, whose total investment value exceeds 650 million euros. For the first section of the Nis-Plocnik highway, the EU provided grants in the amount of 40.6 million euros, and the European Investment Bank a favorable loan in the amount of 100 million euros. The realization of the second phase of the project from Plocnik to Merdar, Joksimovic points out, has so far been the subject of talks with various partners, so it is understandable that, he adds, the project was discussed with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which recently opened a regional office in Belgrade.
– The key to our development is the construction of major transport and energy corridors in order to better connect with the EU and the region, and therefore we follow with great attention the activities undertaken by the European Commission regarding the preparation of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans – said the Minister.
In addition to projects that contribute to integration in the region, in line with the EU-promoted Integration Agenda, Serbia has also proposed projects that support the implementation of the agendas, but also encourage better digital connectivity, the minister said.
– Because of all this, and having in mind the recent visit and the establishment of stronger cooperation with the USA and the DFC, good coordination is important, both inter-ministerial and with international development partners – Joksimovic underlined. – We can freely say that Serbia has become more attractive than ever for cooperation with many international partners. The reason for that is certainly reflected in the stable economic and political climate in our country, Dnevnik reports.
