China Eximbank pledges EUR 16 million loan for Phase 1 of Modernization of Integrated Telecommunication System Project

In July 2013, Huawei and Serbian Railways (Zeleznice Srbije) — a Serbian state-owned railway company — signed a framework agreement regarding Phase 1 of the Modernization of Integrated Telecommunication System Project. The agreement outlined a project that would involve the construction of fiber-optic and copper cable networks; and the deployment of transmission and switching systems, information systems, new railway equipment, local radio networks and a radio dispatch system. The work would be undertaken along four sections of Corridor 10 over 461 kilometers: a 119 km Belgrade railway junction section, a 96 km Belgrade (Resnik) - Lapovo Section, a 142 km Lapovo - Nis section, and a 104 km Belgrade (Batajnica) - Sid section. The total estimated value of Phase 1 was 22 million euro ($24.6 million) and China Eximbank reportedly agreed in principle to provide an EUR 16 million loan in support of this project. Then, on May 14, 2014, Huawei and Serbian Railways signed a commercial contract for Phase 1 of the Modernization of Integrated Telecommunication System Project. AidData has not yet identified any evidence that a loan agreement with China Eximbank was ever finalized for this project. Nor has AidData identified any evidence that this project ever entered implementation.

Additional details

The purpose of this pipeline project is the construction of fiber-optic and copper cable networks; and the deployment of transmission and switching systems, information systems, new railway equipment, local radio networks and a radio dispatch system. The project is scheduled to take place along four sections of Corridor 10 over 461 kilometers: a 119 km Belgrade railway junction section, a 96 km Belgrade (Resnik) - Lapovo Section, a 142 km Lapovo - Nis section, and a 104 km Belgrade (Batajnica) - Sid section.

Number of official sources

7

Number of total sources

12