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The Public-Private Partnership Center has published a Preliminary Information Memorandum on the Belarus M10 Highway PPP project.

The Contracting Authority for the project will be the Republic of Belarus acting through the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).

The M-10 highway runs from the border of Russian Federation (Selische) through Gomel to Kobrin, it crosses the territory of Republic of Belarus from east to west and is the shortest and most convenient way for goods and passengers transfer from EU countries to Belarus and Russian Federation.

The private partner will be responsible for the design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance (DBFO) of the 5 sections of the M-10 highway.

The section of the M-10 covered by this project runs from km-109.9 (near Rechitsa) through to km 195.15 (west of Kalinkovichy); a total length of 85.25 km. The project involves the improvement of the M-10 and part of the R-31 from an existing single 2-lane carriageway to a 4-lane dual carriageway (2+2) and includes both grade separated junctions with some of the local roads and grade separated crossings of the railway to improve both the flow on the mainline as well as its safety. The cost of the project is about US$200 million.

The MoTC has established the following objectives, among others, for the project:

• Improve traffic access, reduce travel time and environmental impact and thus improve the quality of life
• Successful pilot PPP project – affordable and bringing best value for money, creating positive image of the PPP in the Republic of Belarus domestically and internationally
• Demonstrate the possibility of funding by the private sector of infrastructure project in Belarus

To date international finance institutions such as EBRD, IFC and Eurasian Development Bank expressed strong interest in considering financing the Project.

The procurement process is expected to start in the third quarter of 2017.

Transport infrastructure is a strategically important sector in Belarus, especially given the geographical situation of the country between the European Union and Eurasia.