LJUBIC: SEVERAL BIG COMPANIES WANT A CONCESSION ON THE VC CORRIDOR

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The Vc Corridor in the length of 336 kilometres is a key strategic project for Bosnia, but progress is slow for now. According to the Bosnian Communications and Transport Minister Bozo Ljubic, the Corridor is a generator of the overall development of the country, and at the same time it is the only pan-European corridor touching on territory of Bosnia.

The cost of the project is currently 7 billion Bosnian Marks, but a funding model has yet to be defined. The feasibility study proposed a public private partnership model, in which a larger part would be built through concessions.

Negotiations are ongoing with potential lenders, and a certain portion has been built on loans, but Ljubic is convinced that concessions will need to be granted in order to complete the project. Several big names have expressed their interest, and the next step is to adopt a decision on the concession extent and purpose in Parliament, Ljubic said.