Improving infrastructure in the Balkans 

A major infrastructure project in the Western Balkan countries will give an important boost to transport, energy and the environment. COWI will set up a project office in Serbia.

COWI is to lead a consortium that as from January 2010 and for four years will support fast and efficient development of infrastructure in the Western Balkans.

The infrastructure projects – covering transport, energy, environment and social infrastructure – will focus on major infrastructure priorities in the Western Balkans region such us roads and railways, sewage treatment plants and other environmental facilities, energy networks, hospitals and other public buildings etc.

The EUR 15 million project is financed by the European Commission, and will cover Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo and Turkey.

Photo: Flickr


Challenges

"One of the challenges will be to hit the ground running,” says COWI Project Director Erling Hvid. “There are already a number of projects we need to get moving from day one. This is going to require a major mobilisation effort."

Hvid cites several challenges ahead, including the establishment of an international project team that works throughout the region as well as how to coordinate work amongst a host of stakeholders that includes the European Commission, financial institutions, municipal governments and a variety of local consultants.

The project falls under the Western Balkans Infrastructure Framework (WBIF), a joint initiative of the European Commission and several international financial institutions, including the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Council of Europe Development Bank. The aim is to harmonise investments in the region.

Project office in BelgradeOne of COWI's first tasks will be to establish a project office in Serbia's capital, Belgrade, which will have a full-time staff of five international experts. The office will be located in the same building as COWI's office in Belgrade to encourage the best possible synergy between the two staffs.

Teams of international and local consultants will help municipal and national governments move the projects from idea through all their stages to procurement and finally implementation.

By Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com
Publised: 25.01.2010

The consortium 
In addition to COWI A/S, the consortium is made up of two English firms, WYG International and WYG Engineering, as well as COWI SNS and Greece’s HCL Consultants. Some 30 consultants from COWI will be involved. The project starts on 11 January 2010 and lasts four years.