Riester: Agreement Important Step in Relations Between Serbia, France

BELGRADE(BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/MO)

French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Riester said in Belgrade on Nov. 26 that an agreement on cooperation in realizing priority infrastructure projects in Serbia was an important step in economic and political relations between the two countries.

The value of the agreement is EUR581 million of which EUR454 million will be invested in building the first Belgrade subway line, while EUR127 million is intended for improving the efficiency of the electricity grid in Serbia.

After the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and signing the agreement with Serbian Minister of Finance Sinisa Mali, Riester told a joint press conference that the construction of the subway "is a very symbolic act of modernizing Belgrade and all of Serbia" which would make life easier for millions of people.

"The agreement stresses a firm intention to include our companies in the Belgrade subway project. France is providing guarantees for export conditions and loans for the project. The success of our efforts to realize this project makes us believe in a good future for our relations," Riester said.