Six companies shortlisted for construction of Verbnica-Merdare highway

The Inter-Ministry Task Force for construction of Verbnica-Merdare highway accepted the proposal of consulting company "Ever Sheds" at yesterday's (September 2, 2009) meeting, which suggested six companies as possible contractors.

The suggested companies are: American-Turkish company "Bektel-Enka", Turkish company "Makioll", Italian "Pizzarotti", Austrian "Porr", Hungarian "Shtrabak" and Greek company "Terna".

The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of Kosovo, Fatmir Ljimaj, who is also the Head of the Task Force, said that the recommendations for construction of highway through partnership of public and private sector has been accepted, that is, that one part of that project would be financed by Kosovo, while the other part would be financed from the loan.

Ljimaj pointed out that maximum transparency in work and allocation of funds for that project would be ensured, and that the project would be implemented according to European standards and the documentation that would be prepared by the consulting company.

According to the words of Ljimaj, construction of the highway will enable employment of about 3,000 workers from Kosovo, it will contribute to development of the zone through which it passes, and it will lead to growth of national income per capita.

Dugoročnija dobit je izlazak na Jadransko more, odnosno albansko priobalje.

Ljimaj also announced that the bids for construction of the highway would be opened before September 25th.

The Head of the World Bank's office in Kosovo, Ranjit Rajnak, estimated that the method for construction of the highway that had been chosen by the Task Force was the most favorable since the construction was not going to affect, as he said, "small budget of Kosovo".