Mott MacDonald, WYG and Atkins consortium awarded Western Balkans Investment Framework contract

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A consortium led by Mott MacDonald and including WYG and Atkins has been awarded a contract by the European Commission to help strengthen essential infrastructure development across the Western Balkans.

The consortium will provide technical assistance as part of the Infrastructure Projects' Facility (IPF) of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). The IPF prepares priority infrastructure projects in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo*. The WBIF also includes a special support programme for Iceland.

Launched in December 2009, the WBIF pools financial resources from the European Commission, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and bi-lateral donors to finance projects that are key to socio-economic development in the Western Balkans. The IPF assists with the preparation of infrastructure projects as part of the lending process of the IFIs, and EU grants.

Since 2009 almost £5 billion in loans and grants have been made as part of the WBIF programme for essential infrastructure development in the region across four target sectors – transport, energy, environment and social infrastructure. Projects that have received funding so far include: €61 million for a 400kV upgrade to the power transmission system in Serbia; €100 million to improve regional roads in Albania; and €70 million to establish renewable energy generation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Mott MacDonald, WYG and Atkins are three globally active companies capable of drawing on the experience and expertise of more than 28,000 qualified and experienced experts worldwide. As part of the IPF the consortium will provide technical support and advice ranging from pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, economic and financial analysis, environmental and social impact assessments, preliminary and detailed design drawings and supervision of works, to assess the technical, economic and financial strength of projects.

Wim Verheugt, Mott MacDonald’s project director, commented: “This strategic win underlines our commitment to provide high quality engineering, environmental and management consultancy services over the long-term in the Western Balkans and Iceland and consolidates our presence in south east Europe. As part of the consortium we are committed to leaving a lasting legacy in the region.”

Keith Cook, Managing Director international Socio-economic Services, WYG said: “It is a testament of our work and reaffirms our commitment to the region to be appointed onto the third phase of such a significant programme following our continued support throughout phase I/II. We look forward to working with our consortium partners to help the region continue to develop.”

Ian Paterson, Service Director of Atkins’ Highways & Transportation PPP Advisory Services division said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work in partnership to develop the region. Bringing our strong multi sector experience to the table, we will provide expertise in transportation, environment, social sector and energy to deliver long lasting benefits to the Western Balkans.”

Ends

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Media Enquiries:

Tom Smith, Mott MacDonald
T:         +44 (0) 20 8774 2205
M:        +44 (0) 7980 689212
E:         tom.smith@mottmac.com

Amy Bhavra, WYG
T:         +44 (0) 113 219 7152
M:        +44 (0) 7917 271314
E:         amy.bhavra@wyg.com

Gary Gaskarth, Atkins
T:         +44 (0) 1372 752233
E:         gary.gaskarth@atkinsglobal.com  

About Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a global management, engineering and development consultancy with more than 14,000 staff, £1 billion revenue and work in 140 countries for the public and private sectors. For 6 consecutive years the employee-owned company has featured in the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For survey. Mott MacDonald’s core business sectors cover buildings, transport, energy, water, environment, health, education, industry, oil and gas, communications and international development.

More information can be found at http://www.mottmac.com/

About WYG

WYG is an established global management and technical consultancy to the built and natural environment that collaborates with clients in over 40 countries to help them realise their corporate and project ambitions.

A top 15 European consultancy and employing more than 1,400 people around the world, WYG has the expertise for every stage of a project’s life-cycle from planning and design to building and completion.

WYG takes enormous pride in the work it does and has been recognised with several prestigious industry awards including: British Expertise International Awards 2011; RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Gold Medal Award 2011, National Recycling Awards 2011.

More information can be found at www.wyg.com

About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world's leading engineering and design consultancies*, employing some 17,700 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. It has the breadth and depth of expertise to plan, design and enable some of the world's most technically challenging and time critical infrastructure projects.

*It is the largest engineering consultancy in the UK (New Civil Engineer Consultants File 2012) and the 13th largest global design firm (Engineering News-Record 2011).

Atkins is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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