May 16 (SeeNews) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a 35 million euro ($39.2 million) loan for the construction of a sewerage system on the left bank of the Danube river in Serbia's capital Belgrade, deputy mayor Goran Vesic said.
The city will provide an additional 12.93 million euro for the project, Vesic said on Wednesday, according to a statement posted on the website of the Belgrade city government.
The bank will provide a 1.1 million euro grant for the preparation of the design project of the new sewerage system, Vesic said.
"The technical assistance contract will be signed in early June so that sewerage system design can begin immediately, he added.
The construction works may begin in the first half of 2020 and will improve the life quality of about 150,000 citizens of Belgrade living near the left bank of the Danube river, Vesic noted.
EIB has lent about 5.4 billion euro to Serbia since 2000. The principal focus has been on transport to provide better links for the country and the region. In 2018 alone, the EIB lent 140 million euro for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help boost growth and job creation, according to data posted on the bank's website.
($ = 0.8927 euro)