Minister of Mining and Spatial Planning Milan Bacevic signed a contract on exchange of documentation for the Morava Canal project with China Gezhouba Group on Monday, thereby continuing the realization of the project aimed at building the canal from the Danube River to the Aegean Sea.
The feasibility study would evaluate the potential of such a project and will not cost anything, Bacevic told a news conference. Following the collection and delivery of documentation, the Chinese company will put forward a feasibility study in two months, he said.
It is within the ministry’s jurisdiction to draft a spatial plan for specific purpose in the entire territory of Serbia, to the border with Macedonia, he added.
“The ministry has taken a serious and thorough approach to the preparation of documentation for the Morava canal project,” Bacevic said, explaining that this does not refer solely to river transport, but also agriculture, energy, tourism, social aspects, and an attempt to stop negative trends relating to migration from rural areas into cities.
According to Bacevic, the project has great support from Russia, China, the U.S., and very positive signals are coming from other states as well.
The Gezhouba corporation announced earlier that China would invest over USD 10 billion in the construction of infrastructure in central Europe, voicing confidence that it would also earmark funds for the Morava canal project.
Source Tanjug
