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)

Project narrative

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.