SFD Inaugurates Kosovo’s Upgraded Pristina–Mitrovica Highway Section
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and the Government of Kosovo have inaugurated an upgraded section of the Pristina–Mitrovica Highway, the fund’s first completed project in Kosovo.
The project upgrades a 9.87-kilometre section of the highway, strengthening the connection between Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, and Mitrovica, and improving links with northern Kosovo and surrounding municipalities.
In a statement, SFD said the upgrade is expected to cut travel times and improve road safety for passenger and commercial traffic, benefiting about 600,000 people, particularly residents of Pristina, Mitrovica and Vushtrri.
SFD supported the project through a US$16 million concessional loan, co-financed with the OPEC Fund for International Development. (US$1 = RM4.08)
“The Pristina–Mitrovica Highway represents an important milestone in SFD's partnership with Kosovo. The project will strengthen access to employment and essential services, facilitate the movement of people and goods, and support economic and social development,” said SFD Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad.
Meanwhile, Kosovo Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati said the highway would make journeys safer, strengthen connectivity and support better access to jobs, education, healthcare and markets.
The SFD CEO also held talks on the sidelines with Murati; Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Dimal Basha; and Minister of Health, Arben Vitia to discuss development projects and the continued SFD–Kosovo partnership.
For more than five decades, SFD has worked with global partners to support sustainable development and long-term economic and social progress.
-- BERNAMA