Nikoloski: New Skopje–Podgorica air route agreed and Skopje–Blace highway to link to Port of Bar

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski visited Podgorica for official talks with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, Vice Prime Minister for European and Foreign Affairs Filip Ivanovic, and Montenegro's Transport Minister Rados Zecevic. The discussions focused on transport links, infrastructure financing and deeper bilateral cooperation.

New direct flight and highway link to Bar announced

According to Nikoloski, the two sides agreed to establish a new air connection between Podgorica and Skopje and to strengthen access to the Port of Bar through construction of the Skopje–Blace highway.

"We have already started building the Skopje–Blace highway, which means opening Macedonia to a third seaport — that is opening to the Port of Bar, alongside the port of Thessaloniki to which we have both highway and rail connection and alongside the port of Durrës, where we are currently building both highway and rail connections. Also, with the construction of the highway from Skopje to Blace we are talking about connection to the Port of Bar," Nikoloski said.

He also described progress on establishing air links between the two capitals. "I expect that very soon a contract will be signed which will mean a direct flight between Skopje and Podgorica, which will give us another capital with which we are connected. That will greatly help the development of tourism, but also the development of business and the connection between the two countries. Airports in both Skopje and Podgorica are growing and this is a good way to continue cooperating and for both airports to keep growing," he added.

The meetings also covered joint applications to European funds and banks for financing, especially for intelligent transport systems and corridor connections, as well as broader political and economic cooperation between the two governments.

"All in all, a fruitful meeting from which we return home with a new airline, and with the good news that the highway we are building Skopje–Blace will mean connection with the Port of Bar," Nikoloski concluded.

Photo: press material from the event