Skopje, 20 July 2022 (MIA) – Construction of the Corridor VIII railroad and rehabilitation of a portion of the Corridor X railroad will resume through an EUR 200 million investment after Railways of North Macedonia public enterprise director Hari Lokvenec and companies “Strabag” and “Gülermak” signed the agreements on Wednesday. The agreements relate to the construction of the first, second and third stages of Corridor VIII section Kumanovo-Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka and the rehabilitation of Corridor X section Nogaevci-Negotino. The first agreement worth EUR 4,8 million includes the rehabilitation of a portion of the Corridor X railroad section Nogaevci-Negotino, 31km-long, within six months. The second agreement worth EUR 40,5 million includes the construction of the first section of the Corridor VIII leading to Bulgaria, 31km-long, within 24 months. The third agreement worth EUR 155 million includes the construction of the second section of the Corridor VIII leading to Bulgaria, 34km-long, within 36 months. The projects are funded through a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), whereas the second lot uses funds from the EU instrument Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) in the amount of EUR 68,5 million. Lokvenec told the press conference it has been confirmed that the third Corridor VIII section leading to the Deve Bair border crossing would be covered by an investment grant in the amount of EUR 155 million. Along with the EUR 61 million secured from IPA II, EUR 216 million of the required EUR 405 million for the third section are grant funds.