Jerusalem light rail Red Line opens
27. 9. 2011
ISRAEL: The Jerusalem light rail Red Line opened for trial services on August 19, with 40 000 passengers carried on the first day. Travel is free until September 1 because of problems with ticketing equipment.
Conclusions from the meeting of representatives of employers in industry, building and transportation fields dealing with further development of transportation in the Czech Republic
25. 5. 2011
On 4th May 2011, there was a meeting of top representatives of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, the Union of Transport of the Czech Republic, Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Crafts of Czech Republic, ČESMAD BOHEMIA, PPP Association, Association for Transport Telematics (ITS&S) and the Association of Building Entrepreneurs. These representatives, who represent major part of employers in industry, transportation and building industry discussed the current issues related to further development of transportation. The result of the meeting is mutual co-ordination and joint action in those fields of transports that are considered crucial from the viewpoint of competitiveness of Czech economy and growing standard of living of citizens of the Czech Republic.
Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative
17. 3. 2011
The Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth sets out a vision of Europe's economy over the next decade. To underpin the Europe 2020 and in order to complete the internal market, record investment volumes will be needed over the next decade in Europe's transport, energy, information and communication networks. Preliminary estimates point to investment needs of EUR 1.5 to 2 trillion This reality, combined with the fact that government budgets face severe pressures, make it crucial to foster the participation of the private sector in the financing of infrastructure projects.
Amendment is not a cure for everything
9. 3. 2011
The lack of transparency in contracts cannot be solved by changing the law only.
Government created based on the parliamentary elections that took place last year claims that its top priorities include responsible approach to budget and battle against corruption. Among its most often presented activities in this aspect are certainly the planned legislative changes in the field of entering public procurement projects. Ministry for Regional Development, the gestor, presented not a long time ago draft paragraph version of the public procurement bill, which should reflect proposals and suggestions presented from various sides (especially by the platform for transparent public procurement and the national economic council of the government).
Source: EURO
Author: Tomáš Kruták
High speed signalling PPP
22. 2. 2011
SPAIN: With the aim of opening the route to traffic next year, ADIF has called tenders for a contract to design, install and maintain signalling and telecommunications equipment on 167 km of high speed infrastructure between Albacete and Alacant.
As with construction of the Olmedo - Ourense route, work will be undertaken as a public-private partnership, with the winning bidder contributing to the funding package and ADIF taking a 10% stake in the special purpose vehicle that will undertake the project.
A budget of €446,8m has been set for the contract, which includes the installation of GSM-R as well as work on adjacent conventional routes to replace signalling equipment incompatible with 25 kV AC electrification.
Companies offered the state to build on credit
7. 1. 2011
Builders have given up and they are offering maturity of payments reaching up to 3 years
Crisis has forced major construction companies to take an unexpected step. Their representatives offered the state to finish building the road projects stopped this summer by Minister of Transport Vít Bárta (VV) due to lack of finances, using their own financial resources. This could mean billions of crowns that would have to be repaid by the state in the years to come.
“We are offering the Ministry of Transport and the Road and Motorway Directorate to finance these projects. We are also willing to postpone financing of these projects. I am not able to tell you by how long exactly, but we are willing to discuss this issue in a range of up to 3 years," CEO of the company Skanska Dan Ťok told the daily HN.
Source: HN - ISI Emerging Markets
PPP Association presented at the Ministry of Transport Best Practice in PPP projects
7. 12. 2010
Ministry of Transport prepared for December 2nd, 2010 a workshop, where it presented its goals in the field of construction and maintenance of highway infrastructure in the Czech Republic in the following years. At the same time the Ministry also aimed to find out more details concerning approach of the market to its plans. The main speaker for private sector at this workshop was the PPP Association represented by executive director Ing. Vladimír Sloup. PPP Association represents significant part of private companies active in the Czech Republic in the field of PPP projects. Private sector was also represented by representatives of major construction companies, banks and consulting companies. Among representatives of the public sector in this workshop was, for example, Mgr. Martin Sýkora, the First Deputy Minister, Ing. Luděk Sosna, Ph.D. head of the strategy department or Ing. Tomáš Čoček, Ph.D. Deputy Director for the State Fund for Transportation Infrastructure (SFDI). Also present at the meeting was, for example, professor Ing. Petr Moos, CSc. from Czech Technical University (ČVÚT). The main aim of the workshop was not in finding the final solution, but in sharing in a form of a constructive dialogue experiences and opinions on the possibilities of efficient use of PPP projects in building and operation of transportation infrastructure in the Czech Republic.
General meeting of the PPP Association – Igor Snopek was chosen as the new chairman of PPP Association
23. 11. 2010
General meeting of the association supporting projects realised in partnership of public and private sectors in the Czech Republic (hereinafter PPP Association) took place on Tuesday, November 23rd in the Ambassador hotel at Wenceslas Square in Prague. The main topics of the programme were evaluation of the activities of PPP Association between years 2007 and 2010, its activities and achievements in 2010 and setting activities and budget for the year 2011. Also very important was the vote for the new chairman of PPP Association as well as members of the steering committee for the next term in office between years 2011-2013. The new chairman of the steering committee is Igor Snopek (Skanska ID).
Source: KONSTRUKCE Media, s.r.o.
We will save with private companies, Bárta promised
4. 11. 2010
Private highways should be repaid also using the money collected in a form of the toll. Building of highways should also be cheaper thanks to simpler building administration proceedings. Finally, highways in the Czech Republic will be built from private money. Minister of Transport Vít Bárta (VV) promised yesterday at the Hospodářské noviny forum that the first so-called PPP projects will be launched in year 2012 or 2013. Co-operation of the state with public sector is one of his top priorities on how to build Czech highways in a cheaper way.
PPP boom looms in Japan as infrastructure crumbles
14. 10. 2010
AUSTRALIA is eyeing a stake in more than $120 billion worth of construction projects in Japan through public-private partnerships.
Japan is poised to open the doors to PPPs as it grapples with the need to rebuild run-down roads, ports, railways and waterworks without adding to its already large public debt.
The move has excited Australian businesses, with construction, project management and engineering firms, and superannuation funds, all keen to get involved in projects.
From: The Australian
Polish PPP News
29. 9. 2010
Currently Poland has generated more than 220 projects that can be procured as public private partnerships. Most of the projects are organized on regional level by local governments and municipalities and are focused on sports and recreational infrasturcture, roads and motorways on the second place and health facilities. Despite the fact that elections are scheduled, Poland shows a solid interest in PPP projects.
Minister of Transport in South of Bohemia: We count with PPP for highway D3
10. 9. 2010
A journey from Prague to Ceske Budejovice should be faster in a matter of 4 years. Minister of Transport Vít Bárta told ČTK today that the journey should take 1 hour and 50 minutes. The journey now takes 2 hours and 40 minutes. According to Bárta, building of the highway in Southern Bohemia should continue, but it will certainly not be finished by the year 2014. Bárta thinks it makes more sense to finish building of highway D3 than the expressway R4. Corridor Prague - Budějovice is now under construction. Major part of the railway still uses single set of tracks only. The journey south therefore takes almost as long as travelling by Pendolino train from Prague to Ostrava.
Source: ČTK
Highway D3 survived government´s austerity cuts, preparation of PPP will continue
17. 8. 2010
The highway D3 will continue. The key transportation building project in Southern Bohemia faced the possibility of becoming a victim of austerity measures presented by the Czech government. The victim is Northern Moravia, where several major projects have been terminated, but there will be lack of money for transportation projects all over the Czech Republic. “These cuts means that we will have to lower the amount of finances spent on repairs of roads next year, including 1st class roads,” Minister Barta said for the daily Denik.
New Zealand wants more public-private partnerships
13. 8. 2010
The government of New Zealand has announced that any future projects by government agencies that are worth more than $25m will be required to consider alternative options including public-private partnerships. In related news, a Chinese firm is looking to make investments in New Zealand’s road projects.
Irish Government gives support to PPPs
10. 8. 2010
Ireland’s Department of Finance has thrown its support behind a number of key PPP schemes in its outline of infrastructure investment priorities for the next six years. As well as announcing a commitment to continuing with the Metro North and DART Underground PPP projects, it also did not rule out the development of Ireland’s National Concert Hall PPP.
Ditz: Private companies could take care of schools
30. 7. 2010
Regulation of building highways will strangulate growth of Czech economy. The more efficient solution, which would on the contrary result in growth, is launching the PPP projects - co-operation between public and private sectors, says head of the PPP Association and director of corporate banking in ČSOB Marek Ditz.
Source: Lidové noviny
Author: Vladimír Piskáček
€6.4 billion for smart growth and jobs — Europe's biggest ever investment in research and innovation! Includes PPP
21. 7. 2010
Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announces today nearly € 6.4 billion of European Commission investment in research and innovation. The package, the biggest ever, covers a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors. This funding will advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness and help solve societal challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population.
Among the priorities of the new management of the Ministry of Transport is support of PPP
14. 7. 2010
Minister of Transport Vít Bárta took over his Ministry today. New head of the Ministry said that his priority is
preparation of the budget of the Ministry of Transport for the year 2011.
Source: PPP Association
Author: Jiří Došlý
Putin urges start for airport PPP
13. 7. 2010
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called for greater private investment in the aviation sector, including airports, to enable the country to compete with other industrialized nations. He added that “airports are key to developing…and allowing it to reach its full potential”.
The federal government has already invested about 47bn roubles (USD1.5bn) in the past two years in airport modernization. Putin has now called for the private sector to contribute further to the development of this infrastructure.
Ústí nad Labem chooses pioneer solution – new public transportation stops via PPP
2. 7. 2010
The first public transportation stops in Ústí nad Labem will start looking better as soon as this summer holidays. In a matter of 2 years, company euroAWK plans reconstruction of as many as 105 bus stops. Municipal council agreed on concession contract with this company on July 1st, 2010.
Source: Press release of the company MT Legal
