EBRD INCREASES ITS SHARE IN FINANCING OF RIJEKA-ZAGREB HIGHWAY

ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has decided to increase its share in the financing of the Rijeka-Zagreb highway project by 100 million Euros. The EBRD loan now amounts to 245 million Euros, which accounts for 75 percent of the project's value, the Company for the Construction and Management of the Rijeka-Zagreb Highway d.d. reported in Zagreb on Wednesday. So far, this is the biggest single investment by the EBRD, which bears witness as to EBRD's exceptional interest in the successful implementation of the project, the Zagreb-based company reported. With the aim of completing the financial scheme with long-term sources, Rijeka-Zagreb Highway d.d. company has invited bids for the drawing up of the project and the construction, maintenance and management of the highway. Four consortiums consisting of reputable companies for the construction, management, and maintenance of highways have been selected in a preliminary selection process. The companies representing the four consortiums are Ilbau GesmbH, Hochtief, Walter Bau-AG and Campenon Bernard SGE. The EBRD and the German development bank Kfw Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau are organising the completion of the financial scheme. (hina) mm rml