The only international port in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brčko Port, has taken on modern features. Namely, the modernization of the Brčko port lasted two and a half years, and the project is worth almost 26 million marks. The District points out that the port is of strategic interest for the entire country, and they expect that the investment will be a momentum and driver of new economic development.
The modernization process of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only international port, Brčko Port, located on the Sava River, began two and a half years ago. The entire project was financed with funds from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the amount of ten million euros and a grant from the European Union in the amount of three million euros.
Two and a half years later, the Port of Brčko has a new access road, railway, port plateau and a new modern 27-ton crane.
ZIJAD NIŠIĆ, Mayor of Brčko District
“That project has been completed and had three phases. It is the only port in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and together with rail and road traffic, it is a trimodal compact, which represents Brčko as a hub”.
This port has been operating at a reduced capacity for years due to outdated equipment. Now, when these problems have been eliminated, the plan is to solve the issue of poor navigability of the Sava River.
ISMET DEDEIĆ, Director of the Institute for Planning, Design and Construction
“Today, there is no contract between the countries that used the Sava River, such a contract does not exist, without a waterway, not even goods can go. If interstate contracts are not signed urgently, I think that the invested funds will be difficult to return”.
Reconstruction and modernization of the only international BiH port brought optimism to the workers, who have the lowest wages of all public companies in the District, say the Brcko union.
IGOR BABIĆ, president of the Brčko District Trade Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“In negotiations with the government and management of the Port, we sent a letter to the Council of Ministers. For now, we have information that a solution will be found, that Port workers who have the lowest wages will find a solution from the BiH level or through the Brčko District Government, that certain funds be allocated in the budget so that these workers have the wages they deserve”.
The port’s sources of income come from the transshipment of various goods, the rent of closed and open storage space and the customs terminal. It is expected that this month the new crane will have the first transshipment of two thousand tons of coal, BHRT writes.
