“1ST MARCH” TUNNEL STAGE 2 FINISHINED IN TIME FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
A ceremony marking the official completion of Stage 2 construction works on the Tunnel “1st of March” was held on the 5c Corridor motorway section between Gorica and Binježevo.
The ceremony was attended by the FBiH Prime Minister, Nermin Nikšić, CEO of FBiH Motorways Ensad Karić, CEO of Euro-Asfalt, Hamed Ramić, as well as the builders of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian consortium led by Euro-Asfalt and ŽGP who have been working on the project.
Prime Minister Nikšić thanked the workers, noting that they have made everyone proud.
“We are completing the Tunnel “1st of March” on the 22nd birthday of our homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina. 22 years ago, the citizens of this country chose a path of independence. They voted in a referendum with a desire to have their own country and in it a safe future for themselves and their children. I am confident that this is still the goal of the majority of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where law shall apply equally to all,” Nikšić said.
CEO of FBiH Motorways Ensad Karić pointed that the 1st of March symbolizes the BiH citizens’ desire for territorial independence and the integrity of BiH.
“The domestic companies have justified our trust and have completed the project on time. Dear workers, I extend my particular gratitude to you, not only for your professionalism, but also because you invested your hearts into this project. We are one step closer to fulfilling our promise to provide BiH citizens with 102 kilometres of modern motorways in 2014,” Karić stressed.
“The 1st of March will always be symbolically engraved into this tunnel,” said the CEO of Euro-Asfalt, Hamed Ramić, adding that it has already been declared the most technologically advanced tunnel in the region. “The entire project was implemented according to plan and schedule. We have not had a single serious work injury. In the future, we shall continue to meet all our obligations and finish the work on time,” Ramić said.
Construction of the Tunnel “1st of March” began in 2010. The first contractor was SCT, but this company later declared bankruptcy. After that, the project was entrusted to 114 companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in a consortium led by Euro-Asfalt and ŽGP. The tunnel is almost three kilometres long, and is the longest tunnel on the 5c Corridor through BiH. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art traffic accessories. The opening of the tunnel is expected in June 2014.
Source: depo.ba
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ZILHAD FORIĆ’S REACTION TO COMMENTS BY FTV JOURNALIST
To: FTV, Ms. Vildana Kurtić, political magazine “Mreža”
Dear Editor,
I will take this opportunity to react to an opinionated and biased comment of a journalist in a feature that was aired in your show on failed privatization cases and tycoons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are a sports association, and most of our activities are aimed at increasing the popularity and outreach of table tennis in Sarajevo, the canton, as well as BiH as a whole. As with most sports associations and NGOs, which are trying to attract as many young people as possible thus reducing juvenile delinquency, we are in a perpetual need of sponsorship. Times are difficult for our activities, but thanks to philanthropic companies and their managers, we manage to survive and spread a more positive image of Sarajevo and BiH. In the present dire economic state, this task is a difficult one. Thanks to Mr. Hamed Ramić, the CEO of Euro-Asfalt – our association’s largest sponsor this year, we have been able to expand and improve our activities. That is why we have decided to attach the name of Euro-Asfalt to the official name of our sports association. We saw this as the only way of returning the favour. Our association has competing teams in all categories, and we are the only association in BiH that offers free table tennis schools to children and youth. Apart from that, Stens-Euro-Asfalt organises the largest and most significant tournaments and competitions in BiH. The only international table tennis tournament in BiH is also organized by us, which you can verify if you check the calendar on the STS BiH website. I assure you, Ms. Kurtić, that all these things cost money. As I have already said, we make it happen thanks to Mr. Hamed Ramić’s support. And we are achieving great success.
Your feature that mentions Mr. Ramić contained claims that are out of this world.
Firstly:
You say that Mr. Ramić is “on good terms with everyone.” Well, is he not supposed to be? Perhaps all his relations should be bad? Some of your journalists and editors, past and present, have been on “good terms” with politicians or people from other spheres. No need to give proof or examples. You are already well aware of who these people are, as are your viewers. Politicians used to dictate the news in shows such yours and instruct editors on what to do and how to do it. Mr. Hamed Ramić is just another competent, kind and well-mannered person, as are other members of his family who are employed in the company. The drivers who take our teams to competitions are also kind, as are other associates and employees of Euro-Asfalt, all the way to the man who greets you at the front gate. Perhaps someone has an issue with this, or maybe some are not used to it. But in Euro-Asfalt, everyone is doing their best to maintain standards so common to similar companies in Europe, but so rare in our own country.
Secondly:
Your journalist stated that, “while Hidrogradnja workers are on strike, Euro-Asfalt is operational and keeps building.” Dear Editor, Euro-Asfalt did not emerge from the ruins and failed companies. This company was born from nothing, and grew from its own foundations. Mr. Hamed Ramić did not take part in any privatisation schemes to get where he is now, which is why he cannot and should not be identified with certain other people. In order to bid at a public tender, one of the essential prerequisites for a company is to be solvent and regularly settling its obligations towards workers and the state. Furthermore, in order to submit their bid, companies must provide equipment, experts and bid bonds. If you look into references of Euro-Asfalt, it should be clear to you why they’re getting the best projects. Expertise and proper equipment are the only things that can guarantee a good service and a good result, which is what matters in this industry.
Euro-Asfalt meets all the standards and criteria. Do you really think that the Vijenac tunnel, the motorway, or some other large project in BiH or abroad, would be entrusted to a company without experience or the ability to perform up to the highest global standards? Jobs are not awarded in Germany or Libya just because someone is on “good terms” with others. That has no relevance in the selection process. Would you expect Mr. Ramić to cower, or to ban access to a construction site if a politician, or anyone else, wishes to pay a visit? Of course he should greet them, show them the building site, and inform them about their progress. Dear Ms. Kurtić, people with good manners and upbringing are expected to do so with a welcoming smile. This also does not affect the selection process, nor does it affect the quality of service. Big projects cannot be awarded to companies with three shovels, a pickaxe and a couple of raincoats. Euro-Asfalt is capable of bidding and winning such projects. We have seen large foreign companies on our construction sites (SCT and Primorje), and as you know, all they left behind were unpaid bills and unfinished jobs. Those foreign companies took their profits with them. Euro-Asfalt keeps its profits here, helping others, and strengthening the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. You should visit the building sites and see for yourself. You will be greeted with a smile, and with the particular kindles of a company that is European, as well as our own!
I have had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Hamed Ramić on two brief, ten-minute occasions. My impression is that he is a humble, calm, and religious man. Humility is a virtue. Calmness shows that a person has nothing to fear. Many of his associates and employees, with whom I have had the opportunity to speak since the beginning of our cooperation, have nothing but the best to say about Mr. Hamed and the company’s management, and are grateful for the opportunity to work in his company, thereby providing for the wellbeing of themselves and their families. Most of them did work in failed state enterprises once. But Mr. Ramić is not the one to blame. His name does not belong in a story about failed privatization schemes, because he never took part in any. And you cannot call him a tycoon, because he is not one. The word “tycoon” can be used for some of the other people mentioned in your feature. But Mr. Hamed Ramić can be called a tycoon only by someone who has their terminology mixed up, and cannot tell a successful businessman from a tycoon. You would probably be surprised at how many good deeds this man has performed, if only you would wish to make a feature about that. Many roads have been built or repaved for free. Many a mosque had its driveway repaved by Euro-Asfalt free of charge. There are many bleak and bad things in this country, but not everyone is bleak and bad. Mr. Hamed Ramić is an example of a positive, good and successful tale in BiH – just like the sports association Stens-Euro-Asfalt, which has accomplished more in just two years, than many others did in 25.
For this reason, I reiterate: it is an honour to bear the name Euro-Asfalt next to the name of our club. It is the least we can do to return the favour to our sponsor, Mr. Hamed Ramić and his company. We will do our best, in various competitions in BiH and aboard, to justify the sponsorship with winnings and fair play. Euro-Asfalt’s legacy is a long stretch of motorways and buildings. The legacy of Stens-Euro-Asfalt will be abundance of victories, well-organized competitions, and many young athletes in the making. This is the only path forward, and we can only tread it together.
I kindly ask you to read out this reaction in your next show, hoping that it will help stop the identification of successful people with those who are less successful. Not everyone is equally to blame for our present situation, just as politicians are not all the same. Not everyone is greedy, and we cannot cram everyone in the same basket because of the actions of individuals. I urge you, in the name of professionalism, to reach out to Mr. Hamed Ramić with an apology. That way you would contribute to good journalism, which is also sadly deficient in our corner of the world.
On behalf of the management, competitors, and all members of Stens-Euro-Asfalt,
Club President, Zilhad Forić
P.S. As for your other features and shows, sadly you are often right in shedding light on numerous deviations in our surroundings! I first noticed you as a journalist when you were the only one to jump in defence of a woman slapped by the criminal Tasim Kučević. You were the only one to react, and for this I admire you greatly. Oftentimes I see you, though we have never met, in a tram. Your commute goes from Stup to the FTV building, and mine starts every day in Ilidža. I could have stayed silent after watching your feature on FTV, like most others did. But I cannot – for the same reason you were the only one to react in the case of a woman at the Court of BiH – because the feature did not do justice, and did not correspond to truth. And I despise injustice as much as you do. The easiest path is the one of a conformist who pretends not to notice certain things. I have succeeded in getting Mr. Ramić’s sponsorship, and I could have stayed silent as if the feature was none of my business. I have decided to react, even though I am not obligated to do so. But I have met the said gentleman and his daughter. They are practically slaves to their company, for their workday lasts 25 hours.
I assure you, their greatest concern is to provide a living and a future to their workers. I believe they have enough money not to do a single day’s work in their life. They could be enjoying themselves, travelling the world, and having fun. But, like you and me, they are different. Everything they do, they do out of love and the need to help others. You weren’t obliged to interfere at the court and help that woman. I was not obliged to find the owners of five wallets full of money – something I am well-known for. Mr. Hamed was not obliged to help Stens, but he chose to do so after seeing our love and enthusiasm in trying to create something positive. Before I started successfully running this sports club, I used to be a regular in call-in talk shows such as “Central Prison.” Back then I used to walk from Ilidža to the city centre and back. Many people know this, and it can be easily verified. During these walks I found lost wallets, mobile phones and other personal belongings in various places. And I returned all of them to their owners. This proves that you, me, and Mr. Ramić, are not the same as others. Some of us are good, and different from others, and rightly so. It would be better for everyone if there were more of us. This, and the injustice made against Euro-Asfalt, is the reason I am writing this, because I could not remain in a cosy, conformist silence. I could have, but then I would not have been true to myself. Thanks to that man, our club trains many children. We are the only ones providing these kids with free training. There is no greater joy than taking all those children to a competition, in a van provided by Euro-Asfalt. This people and this grieved and divided country need individuals like you, me, and Mr. Hamid.
With my sincerest regards, I am inviting you to visit our association at 45 Splitska St.
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT VIJENAC TUNNEL
On Friday, the 8th of November 2013, a group of civil engineering students from the Polytechnic Faculty in Zenica visited the Kakanj-side section of the Vijenac tunnel. The students were given the opportunity to see up close the construction techniques used in this complex and important construction project.
EURO-ASFALT SPONORS FIRST ZENICA HALF MARATHON GGM+
On the 6th of October, the Association “Marathon Zenica” organized the first half marathon GGM+ and the City race in Zenica.
The half marathon GGM+ was named in honour of the upcoming opening of the Primary Urban Thoroughfare (Glavna gradska magistrala – GGM) which is under construction in Zenica. The turnout for the half marathon has exceeded the organizers’ expectations. Head of the “Marathon Zenica” Assembly Zijad Imamović told Klix.ba that the entire event went by without any disruptions.
“We were counting on twenty or so runners, but today we’ve had around 60 participants of the Zenica half marathon, and about 30 participants of the City race. The length of the half marathon is roughly 21 kilometres, while the City race is around six kilometres long,” Imamović said. “The winners of the Sarajevo half marathon were among the participants. We want this half marathon to continue growing, and to include as many people as possible into the army of those who see running as a lifestyle,” he added.
One of the initiators of the event, and one of the oldest participants in the half marathon, is an American, Jef Summay. He managed to complete the entire half marathon.
“I come from Kentucky, but I have been living in Zenica for 12 years. Five years ago I took up running. After realising that running is becoming more popular in BiH and Zenica, I decided to try to organise a half marathon in Zenica. And here we are, at last. We have succeeded,” Summay said. He remarked that this half marathon did not require too much training, but it did present a significant challenge to all contestants. The half marathon was dominated by Hungarians. The first and second place among women went to Tunde Szabo and Zita Kacser from Hungary, while Rahima Zukić finished third.
Nagy Tamas from Hungary finished first among male participants, followed by his countryman Toth Tivader, while Ibrahim Ramić from Sarajevo finished third.
Source: Klix.ba
CONSTRUCTION SITE PHOTO UPDATES
Photo updates from LOT1 (Suhodol-Tarčin), LOT2 (Lepenica-Suhodol), LOT3 (Vlakovo-Lepenica) and LOT3A (Sarajevo Bypass) construction sites.
SARAJEVO BYPASS LOT 3A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
The motorway course of the LOT3A continues where the LOT1 (Jošanica-Butila) leaves off, just behind the Butila Junction. It stretches south-west for 3.5 kilometres towards the future Vlakovo Junction. The starting chainage km 5+500.00 overlaps with the final chainage of LOT1. The course of the LOT3A road follows a previously set corridor bordered by the Dobroševići-Bojnik urban planning area on the right side, and the future railway corridor on the left side.
The advantage of this course over the previous proposals is that the existing thoroughfare serving as the primary link between the city and these two neighbourhoods will practically remain intact thanks to favourable grading of the Bojnik Viaduct (L=115m) as an integral part of the motorway course.
Works have been proceeding along the entire course of the LOT3A since the beginning. The cutting of building material is nearing completion, with about 80,000 cubic metres left. The embankment filling is also advancing, with 200,000 cubic metres left. The cutting and filling should be completed by the 15th of October, 2013. Other ongoing works include the construction of Bojnik Viaduct and Osijek underpass, and preparations for the construction of Treševine underpass. The installation of box culverts is nearing completion. Four culverts have been completed, and the remaining three are nearing completion.
The Treševine cut and the reinforcement of the fill slope should be finished by the end of September. The slope reinforcements are made with coir mats and resoiling. Works are also under way to resolve any overlapping of low, medium and high-voltage power lines, as well as water pipes and cable ducts.
Preparations are under way for the construction of drainage systems and the upper layers of the motorway between cross-sections P274 and P297. The paving of this section of the motorway should be completed by the end of October.
CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT ON 11-KILOMETRE SECTION SVILAJ-ODŽAK SIGNED
An agreement on the construction of the 11-kilometre 5c Corridor motorway section Svilaj-Odžak was signed in Odžak by CEO of FBiH Motorways Ensad Karić as the investor, Regional Head of Strabag AG Austria Josip Kuzmanić as the consortium leader, FBiH Minister of Transport and Communications Enver Bijedić as a co-signatory, and Euro-Asfalt CEO Hamed Ramić on behalf of his company and ŽGP Ltd. Sarajevo as contractors. This will mark the opening of the eighth building site on the 5c Corridor, and the first one in the northern part of the country.
“With this agreement we shall be 11 kilometres closer to our aim, which is to have more than 100 kilometres of modern motorways by the end of 2014,” Karić said.
According to him, aside from 61 million euros envisioned for the 11-kilometre motorway, another 10 million euros will be invested in the international border crossing at Svilaj, similar to the one at Bijača in the south of the country, as well as two junctions, Svilaj and Odžak.
“It is very important to FBiH Motorways that, apart from 11 kilometres of modern motorways, the local communities will also gain six kilometres of access and local roads,” Karić said, adding that 300 workers and about 300 pieces of heavy equipment will be employed on this project.
On behalf of the consortium of Strabag AG Austria, Euro-Asfalt Sarajevo, and ŽGP Sarajevo, Josip Kuzmanić stated that the companies will invest their full energy and potential into this project, taking special care to meet the deadlines.
“I wish to emphasize that Strabag employs domestic workers in BiH, because we have been present here as a Bosnian-Herzegovinian company for years,” Kuzmanić said.
Source: klix.ba
EID PRESENTS FOR 360 FAMILIES IN EASTERN BOSNIA
The BBI Bank, together with its partners BBI Real Estate and Euro-Asfalt, has launched a charity initiative to donate meals and sanitation kits to 360 returnee families in Eastern Bosnia, namely in Foča, Čajniče, Rudo, Višegrad, Bratunac and Vlasenica.
The coordinator of this charity initiative, Semir Bašić, stated that the BBI Bank continues with its tradition of supporting post-war returnees across BiH.
Bašić explained that the total value of 360 Eid presents, which will be distributed in six towns, is 54,000 KM. A single present is worth 120 KM, and contains basic foodstuffs. The presents will be distributed to the poorest returnee families in Eastern Bosnia selected by the local imams.
Bašić added that a shipment of 120 presents is headed for Bratunac and Vlasenica, while another is intended for Foča, Višegrad, Rudo and Čajniče.
LOT 3A OF THE SARAJEVO BYPASS TO BE COMPLETED IN 10 MONTHS
Head of the FBiH Motorways Ensad Karić met today in Butile with the executive officers of the consortium consisting of Euro-Asfalt and ŽGP. Karić presented them with a contract for the construction of the LOT 3A of the Sarajevo Bypass. The consortium is expected to complete the construction of the final section of the bypass within 10 months.
The total cost of the project is 36.8 million KM (VAT included) which will be covered entirely by the FBiH Motorways. Once completed, this section will link the existing motorway, including the Vlakovo-Tarčin section which is under construction, with the Jošanica-Zenica motorway. Karić stated that a decade ago Bosnia and Herzegovina took out a loan amounting to almost 90 million euros for the construction of the Sarajevo Bypass.
“As we can see, the job has not been finished. Instead of a motorway, the section is still covered with grass. However, the FBiH Motorways have taken over this task, and I guarantee that this section will be completed in 10 months, linking more than 100 kilometres of motorways in the FBiH stretching from Tarčin to Zenica,” Karić said.
He especially underlined the fact that the project will be carried out by domestic companies, after years of foreign companies “circling around” the bypass but failing to finish the job that was started ten years ago. Euro-Asfalt CEO Hamed Ramić stated that this is a very complex section, having in mind that the area has large quantities of groundwater. He added that 350 workers will be engaged in this project, and promised that the construction will be finished on time.
The ceremony was also attended by the FBiH Prime Minister, Nermin Nikšić, and the FBiH Minister of Transport and Communications, Enver Bijedić. They both welcomed the fact that, during their time in office, the FBiH Highways have succeeded in achieving their “ambitious aim to build more motorways than all previous governments combined.” They added that the completion of the bypass will alleviate many congestion problems in Sarajevo.
Source: Klix.ba
MARCO – EA JOINT VENTURE
Representatives of Euro-Asfalt visited Qatar, where they formed a joint venture with MARCO Trading & Contracting Company. This company has been operating in Doha since 1976.
