Article
Kičevo–Ohrid Highway
16 January 2022
The 57-kilometre Kičevo–Ohrid Highway is the largest and most expensive infrastructure project in post-independence North Macedonia. Deemed to be of strategic economic importance by the North Macedonian authorities, the development is also highly controversial. Funded through a loan from the Export–Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) and with Sinohydro as its principal contractor, the project has been targeted by corruption investigations and marred by governance and transparency issues, as well as environmental concerns. Technical difficulties have led to successive delays and cost overruns, with the latest price tag close to 600 million EUR. Construction started in 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2023...