Corridor 5c to be completed by 2030.

(Patria) - Further economic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Western Balkan countries, as well as the rest of Europe, will take a big step forward with the help of an EBRD loan for the construction of a new section of the motorway on Corridor Vc. The construction of this corridor is a strategic priority for Bosnia and Herzegovina and represents the largest construction project in the country at the moment.

The 14 km section starts at the Rudanka interchange in Republika Srpska and bypasses the city of Doboj at the Medakovo interchange in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once completed, Corridor Vc will represent a link of the trans-European transport network with the main network in the Western Balkans. More than 50% of Bosnia and Herzegovina's population lives along this 30-kilometer corridor, and this part contributes more than 60% to the country's GDP.

Corridor Vc is expected to be completed by 2030 and the total costs will be around 4 billion euros, with about 1.1 billion euros invested to date. In addition to building modern transport infrastructure, the new section of Corridor Vc will also have a positive impact on the environment through the introduction of climate resilience elements. The project will also benefit over 70,000 residents of Doboj, as the quality of life will improve due to reduced traffic burden.

The President of the EBRD, Suma Chakrabarti, said at today's signing within the framework of the EBRD Annual Meeting in Sarajevo, that this signing represents a big step forward in the construction of Corridor Vc.

"Connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the region and the world, through the construction of physical infrastructure, but also through support for the adoption of European standards and regulations, is a priority for the country and its international partners. The EBRD supports Bosnia and Herzegovina in the serious efforts this country is undertaking to build a more successful economy, for the benefit of all its citizens," said Chakrabarti.

As a long-term partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EBRD supports the country's strong and sustainable development through a combination of investments and support for policy reforms. Since the country became a shareholder of the Bank in June 1996, when the Bank started operating in BiH, a total of 2.3 billion has been invested within 160 projects. Last year alone, the EBRD invested about 200 million euros in BiH in 15 new projects.