October 17 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s infrastructure ministry said on Monday that it signed two deals with Chinese companies for the construction of some 300 km of road infrastructure worth up to 4 billion euro ($4.2 billion).
A deal was signed for the construction of the 186-km Sombor-Kikinda high-speed road in northern Serbia, stretching from the country's border with Hungary to the border with Romania, the infrastructure ministry said in a press release.
Construction works on the high-speed road will begin next month. Building construction permits have already been issued for the first 5.5 kilometres of the road.
"It will be a very important road that will connect not only the north of Serbia, but also Hungary and Romania, which is why we expect it to be very busy," said Serbian infrastructure minister Goran Vesic following the signing of the agreements in Beijing.
Another deal was signed for the construction of a 105-km motorway connecting Belgrade, Zrenjanin and Novi Sad.
"The design of that highway is being completed and it is expected that the works will start next year," said Vesic.
The total value of the two deals will amount to 3.5 - 4.0 billion euro. The names of the Chinese contractors were not disclosed in the press release.
A separate deal was signed for the acquisition of five high-speed trains which meet all European standards and will be able to be used on EU tracks.
“We have been negotiating for a long time with China regarding this contract. For 54 million euro, we bought five high-speed trains, which will run on the Belgrade-Budapest line. Some of those trains will be in operation at the beginning of 2025. By the end of 2024 we will have completed our part of the high-speed railway to Subotica, and already in 2025, after testing the railway, we will have a high-speed train from Belgrade to Subotica, with a travel time of an hour and ten minutes. When our Hungarian colleagues finish their part of the railway, we will be connected to Budapest," said Vesic.
($ = 0.9494 euro)