SECURITY “NATO is committed to the security of the Western Balkans, and we are playing our part in building security with our regional partners. Some countries in the region have already joined our Alliance, and more aspire to do so.”— JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO Secretary General BULGARIA
Seeking South Stream Project Revival With Russia considering a move to suspend gas transit via Ukraine, southern Europe and particularly Bulgaria would like to renew the South Stream gas pipeline project, Andrey Listovski, who heads the Energy Development Fund, is quoted by UA Regnum as saying. Listovski’s Energy Development Fund is a non-governmental organization “involved in the designed of Russian energy sector development”.In his comments he has recalled the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who earlier in February said South Stream could be renewed if Bulgaria could give rocksolid guarantees the project will not fall through. “Everybody is theoretically ready to renew activities on South Stream. But Russia... is ready to renew [it] in case of clear guarantees that the money will not be wasted.” This position is very rational, advisable economically and well-founded from the political point of view, Listovski has said. His remarks follow a statement from the Russian commercial attaché to Bulgaria, who recently said it was likely for the project to be revived.
ROMANIA
Airbus To Set Up Helicopters Production Airbus Helicopters, the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus Group, will open a Centre of Excellence in Romania for H215 Puma helicopters production. This comes after Airbus inaugurated in September 2016 a helicopter plant in Ghimbav, Brasov County, an important investment for the aeronautic industry. Airbus Helicopters presence on domestic market will have a positive impact on the trade balance by adding an exports volume of almost 80 percent
MONTENEGRO
Ryanair To Launch New Podgorica Flights Europe’s largest low cost airline, Ryanair, will launch flights between Stockholm Skavsta Airport and Podgorica this spring, marking the carrier’s fourth destination from the Montenegrin capital. The new service will operate twice per week, each Thursday and Sunday, starting April 2. Tickets are already on sale through the airline’s website. “We are delighted to introduce new flights out of Podgorica for the 2017 summer season, which includes Stockholm and the recently launched flights from Berlin, for a total of four destinations from this airport. As a result, we will handle 110.000 passengers to and from Podgorica this year and create eighty local jobs at the airport”, the no frills carrier said in a statement. Podgorica is preparing for an extremely busy year following a record 2016 during which it managed to overtake Sarajevo to become the former Yugoslavia’s ninth busiest airport. So far, Wizz Air has announced plans to launch flights from Budapest to the Montenegrin capital starting April 3, while LOT Polish Airlines will commence seasonal operations between Warsaw and Podgorica from May 13.
PROCREDIT GROUP
Supporting SMEs In Serbia, Kosovo And FYR Macedonia
of company’s turnover. The new plant in Ghimbav will host the production of H215, a twin-engine and versatile helicopter, which provides advanced avionics in a reliable and sturdy platform capable of performing a wide range of missions. It offers long-range capabilities, power, speed, an excellent useful payload as well as an availability rate of more than 95 percent.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) and three ProCredit group subsidiaries have signed guarantee agreements to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia, Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This was made possible via the Western Balkans Guarantee Facility, funded by the European Union under the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility. The Western Balkans Guarantee Facility agreements aim to facilitate access to finance for SMEs in Serbia, Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia by providing credit coverage on a total of €70 million of loans over the next two years. SMEs will be able to access €35 million from ProCredit Bank Kosovo, €25 million from ProCredit Bank Serbia and €10 million from ProCredit Bank Macedonia. MARCH
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