Skopje, 20 July 2022 (MIA) – Regional connectivity of the country with the European railway corridors and opening of new European routes for railway transport are part of the benefits of the construction and reconstruction of railways on corridors 8 and 10, for which agreements were signed on Wednesday in the Government. This is an investment of EUR 200 million with the planned revitalization of Corridor 8 on the Kumanovo - Beljakovce section, the Beljakovce - Kriva Palanka section, as well as the overhaul of the Nogaevci - Negotino section on Corridor 10. In total, about 96 kilometers will be covered. “This is the last of several large infrastructure projects that complete the idea of North Macedonia as a crossroads of the Balkans, and which will enable regional connection and integration of the Republic of North Macedonia in the European railway corridors. The investment will also ensure the opening of new European routes for rail transport and will connect us with ports in Albania and Bulgaria. Regional connection of this type is an extremely important moment for our economy, stressed Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski at the signing. With this infrastructure investment, he pointed out, new markets are opened and provided for domestic companies, and the alternative routes provided by this investment will also mean cheaper transport for companies, reducing the burden on the economy brought by the economic and energy crisis. “With the rehabilitation works on Corridor 8 after almost 30 years, the railway connecting the Republic of North Macedonia with the Republic of Bulgaria is becoming a reality. This project will be of wider importance for the economy, for business, as well as a stake in the European agenda for a functional railway connection of the entire region. Accession to the European Union, in addition to being a political process, is also a process of infrastructural and economic connection. This process moves in parallel and is equally important because it brings tangible benefits related to improving the business climate but also improving the quality of life of citizens,” Kovachevski said. According to him, the impact that the investment will have on the development and reforms in the railway sector is undeniable. “The reforms are a long process, but they represent a necessary prerequisite for rail transport that we all desire: as developed, safe, fast and environmentally friendly as in the countries of the European Union. There are many benefits of the developed railway transport and therefore we should all continue to work on the modernization of the railways through joint projects with our partners from the EU with the aim of an efficient and modern railway network in the region,” Kovachevski said. He expressed satisfaction that the signing of the agreements follows yesterday's historic day for the country. “The brave, difficult and patriotic decisions that we have made, from today are translated into concrete projects that will ensure overall development. What is important is that we have a clear vision for the future, we are moving the country forward. North Macedonia will develop economically, politically and socially, and today's and future generations are building a democratic, European society in which the citizens will be economically advanced with an improved quality of life,” Kovachevski said. dk/ba/