Finance Minister Ivan Šuker, during the signing of a Loan Agreement with the World Bank for the amount of 200 million euros, commented on media reports regarding state assistance to the consortium of IGH, Konstruktor, and Tehnika for the construction of the Montenegrin highway.
He emphasized that the provision of state guarantees is legally regulated and that it would not be good for the state to provide guarantees to the private sector. Nevertheless, this is a project worth three billion dollars, and we want it to remain in Croatian hands. Therefore, we are talking to commercial banks to resolve this issue, said Šuker. The consortium led by the Split company Konstruktor continues to work intensively on the highway construction project through Montenegro despite speculation about a possible loss of the job.
The Executive Director of the First Montenegrin Highway, a company established in Montenegro by the Konstruktor consortium, Milorad Pustahija, stated a few days ago that geodetic surveys and the construction of access roads will soon begin on the highway project from Bar to Boljare, making the works visible. The Croatian consortium is negotiating with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), as well as with other banks to secure the necessary loans worth 407 million euros. The Montenegrin government this week began negotiations with the companies Aktor and HCH because, as stated, it does not want to waste time if the Croatian consortium does not provide the necessary guarantees. The company claims that they could secure the necessary guarantees, and negotiations will continue on February 26. (www.hrt.hr)
