STORY: China-built highway section spurs economic growth in Montenegro
DATELINE: Aug. 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:30
LOCATION: Podgorica
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Chinese-built highway
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Serbian): MILAN LJILJANIC, Executive Director of Monteput
3. various of the Chinese-built highway
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Serbian): MILAN LJILJANIC, Executive Director of Monteput
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Serbian): VELJKO IVANOVIC, Driver

STORYLINE:

A new Chinese-built highway in Montenegro has significantly enhanced travel convenience and spurred developmental progress within the country.

The 41-km priority Smokovac-Matesevo section of Montenegro's Bar-Boljare Highway opened to traffic in July last year.

Since then, it has facilitated the safe passage of millions of travelers through the rugged and perilous terrains of the northern regions, while also catalyzing economic growth.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Serbian): MILAN LJILJANIC, Executive Director of Monteput
"I would like to reflect on the safety aspect. Construction of this highway section enabled a detour from one of the most dangerous sections in the Balkans -- the road through Platije canyon had taken 1,200 lives since it was constructed. Since the new highway was opened, on the priority section Smokovac-Matesevo, as well as along the road through Platije canyon there were no traffic incidents with deadly outcomes."

The new highway also brings direct and indirect economic benefits to Montenegro, a country whose economy and wellbeing are largely dependent on the tourism industry.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Serbian): MILAN LJILJANIC, Executive Director of Monteput
"In the past 12 months since the highway was put into operation, 2.2 million vehicles have passed here, while the tolls brought an income of 9 million euros (about 9.85 million U.S. dollars).
With the construction of the priority section Smokovac-Matesevo, we completed the first part of the Bar-Boljare highway, which aims to connect northern, central and southern parts of Montenegro. The construction of this section gave a significant incentive to the development of economic activities, and the development of tourism, especially in the northern parts of our country."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Serbian): VELJKO IVANOVIC, Driver
"This highway, especially when it's fully completed, represents an immeasurable benefit for our country. Tourists are more than satisfied, and they will be even more so when the first section Podgorica-Bar is completed too, and even more importantly - the Matesevo-Boljare (section). It is impressive and powerful, but I must also appeal for this to continue."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Podgorica.
(XHTV)