Italian consortium Cooperative Costruzioni Lercara ready to invest EUR 150 million in Belgrade bypass

Representatives of the Italian construction consortium Cooperativa Costruzioni Lercara from Palermo want to participate in the finishing work on the Belgrade bypass, one of the most important stretches of Corridor X, and are ready to invest EUR 150 million in that project, the Ministry of Transportation said in a release on Wednesday.

Aside from discussing the completion of works on Road Corridor X with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert, which was also the central theme of their recent meeting in Belgrade, Transportation Minister Milutin Mrkonjic also resolved the issues of participation of prospective investors from outside the borders of Europe in the project and their big interest in finding their place in the Serbian construction market, the release reads.

- The meeting with the representatives of the Italian construction consortium is a result of an excellent relationship between Minister Mrkonjic and Degert and a great engagement and the interest of both sides in completing one of the most important infrastructure projects for Serbia as well as the whole of Europe, Corridor X, within the set deadlines - the release reads.

Italian representatives would like to find a model to use to apply for the contract on the basis of applicable regulations after sending a letter of intent.

- The Serbian government will continue to work with Italian partners with the same intensity, which is also confirmed by the visit of one of the most important construction companies that want to participate in the finishing work on the Belgrade railway hub - said Mrkonjic.

Serbia`s doors are wide open to European investors, the minister said.

- We have maximally simplified the procedure and developed an entire spectrum of opportunities that interested companies can use to win this job. Therefore, I am very satisfied with the fact that the cooperation with European representatives is excellent on a daily basis and very concrete - Mrkonjic stressed.

Italian representatives will soon submit a letter of intent, which will serve as the basis for resuming the talks that began Wednesday at the Serbian Ministry of Transportation.