J. Joksimović: Investing in infrastructure is never a waste of money

September 12 2019 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović: Investing in infrastructure is never a waste of money

The signing of the financial agreement on the construction of the E-80 Niš-Merdare highway and on the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBFI) Investment Grant worth EUR 40.6 million is very important for the region, and especially for Serbia, because any investment in infrastructure is very important for the economic progress of the society, said Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović, who has signed the Investment Grant Agreement.

She has stated that today’s signing of the agreement and the grant agreement is very important, since there has been a lot of discussion with partners from the EU and the region, as well as considerable debate in the public about the importance of this project.

“Investing in infrastructure is never a waste of money; it is to the benefit of the citizens, and we are here to work in their interest and on improving the quality of life”, said Joksimović.

“By doing this, we also show that we are an active part of what constitutes the trans-European network, and all this will contribute to better connectivity in the region and better business activity”, said the Minister.

Joksimović has stressed that one of the leading initiatives is infrastructural integration, and that it provides concrete contribution to the overall economic and social progress of the society.

“Everyone in the region will benefit from this project, and Serbia most of all, as no project has been thoughtlessly planned”, she has said.

The financial agreement for the construction of the E-80 Niš-Merdare highway worth EUR 100 million has been signed today by the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović, and the Director of Public Sector for Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia and the Western Balkans of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Miguel Morgado.

The agreement on the WBFI Investment Grant worth EUR 40.6 million has also been signed at the Serbian Government today. Apart from Minister Mihajlović and EIB representative Morgado, the grant agreement has also been signed by the Minister of European Integration in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Jadranka Joksimović, and Assistant Director of the “Corridors of Serbia”, Dušan Purić.

Source: Tanjug