Active Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides RMB 20 million grant — via ETCA — for Đurđevića Tara Bridge Renovation Project and other infrastructure projects (Linked to Record ID#67264 and Record ID#85201)

¥20M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Montenegro
Country	Montenegro
Start Date	Oct 20, 2017
End Date	Oct 18, 2030
Duration	4,746 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`67265`

Grant Description

On May 9, 2017, the Chinese Government signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with the Government of Montenegro.

In the ETCA's provisions, the Chinese Government agreed to provide a RMB 20 million grant to finance the reconstruction of the Đurđevića Tara Bridge and other infrastructure projects to be agreed upon.

China Development Bank (CDB), together with an bank chosen by the Government of Montenegro, was to open a non-interest, non-expenditure account, and the utilization of the donation was to be subject to the rules of CDB). (Noted that MOFCOM is the funder but the grant proceeds from MOFCOM were disbursed through a CDB account that was established with a host country bank) On October 20, 2017, the Chinese and Montenegrin governments signed an exchange of letters for a feasibility study.

The feasibility study was completed on December 12, 2017.

The study prepared by the Chinese Communications Construction Co., Ltd (CCCC), assisted by the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs of Montenegro and verified by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, cost RMB 940,000.

The study, prepared by the Chinese Communications Construction Co., Ltd (CCCC), showed that the RMB 20 million donation was insufficient; thus, the Chinese Government provided another RMB 20 million via an ETCA on May 8, 2018 for the bridge and other projects, as captured by linked Record ID#67264. Reconstruction of the bridge had not started by late August 2018.

It appears that by May 2019, China Railway Second Engineering Group Co., Ltd. was on site inspecting and planning the project, but construction still had not started.

The Đurđevića Tara Bridge was a 365 meter-long concrete bridge located at the crossroads between Mojkovac, Žabljak and Pljevlja. It was 172 meters high. It had 5 arches, the longest spanning 116 meters. It had a road on top and hung over the Tara River. It was the filming location for a Yugoslav film, "The Bridge," which is popular in China.

It also played an important role during World War II, and thus is seen as a symbol of the fight against fascism. On a practical note, it was a north Montenegro traffic hub with potential for tourism.

📋 Staff Comments

MOFCOM is the funder but the grant (or interest-free loan) proceeds from MOFCOM were disbursed through a CDB account that was established with a host country bank

📚 Sources & References

Montenegro
China sign agreement on bridge reconstruction project
Montenegro
China sign conclusions of field research for feasibility study for reconstruction of Đurđevića Tara bridge
Agreement on Chinese Government's donation for reconstruction of Đurđevića Tara bridge signed
Press release from 24th Cabinet session: Chinese donation, cooperation with diaspora, e-Government
中黑将合作修缮塔拉河大桥
Potpredsjednik Simović i ambasador Cui potpisali pisma razmjene između Vlade Crne Gore i Vlade NR Kine
China to donate EUR 2,65 million for reconstruction of Đurđevića Tara bridge
Agreement on Chinese Government's donation for reconstruction of Đurđevića Tara bridge signed
Press release from 24th Cabinet session: Chinese donation, cooperation with diaspora, e-Government
Chinese to finance reconstruction of Djurdjevica Tara Bridge – Montenegro to get donation of EUR 2.65 million, Đurđevića most
Work on the bridge on Đurđevića Tara will begin soon
Donacija kineske Vlade za rekonstrukciju mosta na Đurđevića Tari
Obnova Mosta na Đurđevića Tari: Kinezi obećali pet miliona, pa traže strpljenje
An agreement on the donation of the Chinese Government for the reconstruction of the bridge on Đurđevića Tara was signed
China donates €2.65m for the Djurdjevica Tara bridge reconstruction
Montenegro’s Chinese Construction “Headache”
Potpisan Sporazum vlada Crne Gore i Kine o privredno-tehničkoj saradnji i Ugovor KCCG i CRBC o pružanju stručnih usluga
Grant Agreement on the China-Assisted Project for the Realization of the Bridge Renovation on the River Tara in Montenegro, Đurđevića Tara bridge soon to be reconstructed. China donated over €7m.
UGOVOR O DONACIJI SREDSTAVA ZA REALIZACIJU PROJEKTA REKONSTRUKCIJE MOSTA NA RIJECI TARI U CRNOJ GORI UZ PODRŠKU KINE
刘晋大使会见塔拉桥修复项目考察设计组
Informacija o donaciji Narodne Republike Kine sa Predlogom sporazuma o privredno- tehničkoj saradnji između Vlade Crne Gore i Vlade Narodne Republike Kine Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

All Grantees

Government of Montenegro

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