J. Joksimović: Investing in transport infrastructure is crucial for development growth

November 01 2018 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović: Investing in transport infrastructure is crucial for development growth


Serbia needs development growth and therefore investment in river, air, rail and road infrastructure is vital for our sustainable growth and development growth, stated Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović today. 
At the presentation of the IPA project ‘Integration of the Navigation Monitoring System on the Danube River’, Joksimović has stressed that such events are the best way to show what type of benefits Serbia has from the European path. 

She has noted that this shows that the status of EU membership candidate is a development opportunity and a potential for Serbia not only through the use of pre-accession funds that Serbia uses as a candidate country for EU membership, but also for smart prioritization in each project sector, because, as she emphasised, growth is not sufficient if there is no development component. 
“We need development growth and that is why investing in transport infrastructure, whether it is river, air, rail or road, is important for our sustainable growth and development growth”, said Joksimović. 

She has said that the project is funded from pre-accession funds for 2013. 
“Someone might ask why we are carrying out the implementation as late as 2018”, Joksimović has stated, continuing to explain the procedures for using pre-accession funds. 
She has specified that two to three years are necessary for proper preparation, completion of preliminary works and project contracting, followed by the implementation of the project itself. 
“That is four, five, six years. This is all in line with EU procedures, so there have been no delays - if someone might think that this is a long period of time”, Joksimović has stated. 
She has also pointed out that some projects are implemented faster, some slower, that it is important that the deadlines are respected, adding that, so far, they have been largely respected. 

She has stressed that the most modern buoys will be installed on the Danube River within the project, making Serbia the first country in the region to have such devices. She further added that they will allow navigation in all weather conditions and contribute significantly to the withdrawal of additional money and the development of the Danube as Serbia’s development opportunity.
“This indeed is a macro-European strategy, the Danube Strategy. The Ministry of European Integration coordinates the Danube Macro-strategy in cooperation with the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure”, stated Minister Joksimović. 

She has emphasised that Serbia could use the Danube River as the largest fairway in Europe and use these kinds of projects to raise the volume of commercial cargo that is transported and the flow of people and capital.
“One of the most significant European values is the smooth flow of people and capital”, said Joksimović.

She has noted that this is an important and good project that represents an introduction to many other projects, not only in Belgrade, but also in the Danube region of Serbia, and in the countries of South-East Europe along the Danube River.
“It is a matter of identity. All Danube countries are considered Central European countries and the Danube has a significant identity component for the countries of South-East and Central Europe”, said Joksimović, adding that these countries invest a lot in sustainable tourism and infrastructure related to the Danube. 

“This is what we will be doing in Serbia”, Joksimović stated and thanked the EU Delegation to Serbia and its Head Sem Fabrizi, as well as the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and Minister Zorana Mihajlović, for the cooperation established so far. 

Source: Tanjug

J. Јоксимовић, З. Михајловић, С. Фабрици на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“

 

J. Јоксимовић, З. Михајловић на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“

 

J. Јоксимовић, З. Михајловић, С. Фабрици на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“

 

J. Јоксимовић и З. Михајловић на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“

 

J. Јоксимовић на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“

 

J. Јоксимовић и З. Михајловић на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“

 

J. Јоксимовић на представљању ИПА пројекта „Интеграција система за праћење пловидбе на Дунаву“