Belgrade, 17 November 2023 (MIA) – The investments in infrastructure are an investment in a better future for citizens and businesses. I am convinced that with policies like these we will contribute to a better living standard of the citizens in both countries, said Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski, who signed Friday a Memorandum for the construction of a high-speed railway with the Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić. 

With the Memorandum, North Macedonia assumes obligations for the realization of infrastructure projects in the construction of a high-speed railway. The first stage of the project foresees the construction of a section from the Tabanovce border crossing to Skopje, as well as the construction of a new railway route to the Skopje International Airport.

More specifically, according to the Memorandum, this refers to the construction of around 50 kilometers allowing commercial speeds of at least 160 kilometers per hour for passenger trains.

“We are assuming the obligation to secure funds from international financial institutions for these projects, so that we can begin the realization of this regional initiative as soon as possible. Together with Minister Vesić we will establish a working group within two weeks, and the working group will start working on an action plan for the realization of the project. Corridor X is the most significant European corridor for the region, it connects us to Central Europe, and we must make use of its potential and benefits,” said Bochvarski after the signing of the Memorandum.

The Minister noted that the Government has already approved a loan for the construction of a joint rail border crossing at Tabanovce on the Macedonian side of the border, thereby kicking off the procedure for the construction of the joint crossing. “In the future, this will be key for the development of both countries,” said Bochvarski. 

The Transport Minister said that currently construction is ongoing on the railway of the eastern part of Corridor VIII towards the Republic of Bulgaria – an investment worth more than EUR 200 million. He added that the reconstruction of 30 kilometers of the southern part of Corridor X has already been completed.

Bochvarski also touched upon the liberalization of railway transportation in the country, stating that Macedonian Railways is currently the only operator in North Macedonia.

“The discussion over the law on liberalization of railway transportation has already concluded in Parliament, and I expect the law to be adopted in the coming days. Serbia has had liberalized transportation for seven years now, as well as almost all countries in the region. By amending this law and allowing for a liberalization of railway transportation we will make it possible for other operators to transit through the Macedonian railways, improving the quality of services for the citizens,” stressed Bochvarski