Vienna: Infrastructure & Construction Summit Brings Together All Balkan Countries

Vienna: Infrastructure & Construction Summit Brings Together All Balkan Countries / Picture: © Balkans Infrastructure Construction Summit

The summit takes place at a crucial time, when most of the countries in question are in discussions for obtaining EU candidate status.

The organizers said that the Balkans Infrastructure & Construction 2013 Summit (BIC 2013) would be bringing together government bodies, ministers, institutions and foreign investors to discuss the opportunities, strategies and challenges around upcoming infrastructure projects.

It claims to be one of the first summits looking into the infrastructure investment opportunities within the Balkan countries – Albania, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro.

BIC 2013 promises ministerial updates, which will highlight the national infrastructure plan for each country, and the opportunities and challenges for the Western Balkans.

Each of the Western Balkan countries will highlight the key transportation projects that are currently in need of tenders for finance, construction and feasibility studies.

The summit will include an update on the ZAIC Consortium regarding the expansion of Zagreb airport in Croatia. Financing, designing and construction will be discussed and further tender opportunities will be announced.

There will also be an update on the development of Corridor 5C running through mainland Bosnia, looking at the challenges and opportunities faced so far, and further tender opportunities with regards to construction.

The Summit will include a detailed update on Macedonia’s projects for Corridor 10 and Corridor 8, and there will be an open call for tender investment opportunities for construction companies and consultants for feasibility studies.

Albania’s four hydropower investment opportunities will be discussed, with an update on the tender opportunities within the four hydro power plants – two by the Northern Mat River and two by the Southern Bistrica River. Government bodies and state-owned producers will outline the profitability of the four hydro power plants and relationship between the potential buyers and state-owned producers.

The summit will assess the hydropower tender opportunities in Montenegro. Ministers and governments will discuss the future plans for advancing hydropower stations in Montenegro

There will also be discussion about the redevelopment works in Serbia’s municipalities, focusing on the tender opportunities for the construction of schools, buildings and healthcare projects in Serbia.

The BIC 2013 Summit is being held on 29 and 30 May, 2013, at the Radisson Blu Style Hotel, Vienna.

It is being organized by International Research Networks (IRN), and is supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European & International Affairs; the Ministry of Communications & Transportation, Bosnia & Herzegovina; the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport & Infrastructure, Croatia; the Government of Montenegro Ministry of Transport & Maritime Affairs; the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Energy, Albania; and the Ministry of Regional Development & Local Self-Government, Serbia.

Confirmed Speakers include:

• Ambassador Dr. Johannes Kyrle, Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Austria
• Damir Hadžić, Minister of Communications and Transport, Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ermina Salkičević-Dizdarević, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Kujtim Hashorva, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Albania
• Mile Janakieski, Minister of Transport and Communications, Republic of Macedonia
• Ivan Brajović, Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs, Montenegro
• Verica Kalanović, Minister of Regional Development and Local Self-Government,Serbia
• Zdenko Antešić, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatia
• Oliver Kumrić, Assistant Minister,Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatia
• Andreas Beikos ,Head Representative Office Western Balkans Serbia,EIB
• Christos Gofas, Team Leader Infrastructure & International Financing Institutions DG Enlargement, European Commission
• Donald Mishaxhi, Senior Banker, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Tirana Resident Office
• Visar Fida,CEO,Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion of the Republic of Macedonia
• Ljubo Knežević, Executive Director,Montenegrin Electrical Transmission, Montenegro
• Ensad Karić, CEO,JP Autoceste FBiH, Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Jorida Tabaku, Deputy Major of Tirana,Albania
• Martin Spicer, Manager for Infrastructure and Natural Resources, Southern Europe, IFC, World Bank Group
• Mr Vedran Vilović, Managing Director of Construction and Utility Services Department, Croatian Chamber of Economy
• Eneida Guria, Executive Director,Albania Investment Development Agency
• Dusan Bajatovic, General Manager, Srbijagas, Serbia
• Nenad Nikolić, General Manager,SEETO
• Elvedin Grabovica, General Manager, Elektroprivreda BiH, Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Hill International Representative