For Immediate Release

BELGRADE (March 26, 2004) – Yesterday, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $643,261 grant to the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Service Agency (SMATSA), Ltd. to partially fund technical assistance in conducting a tender procurement associated with a $100 million air traffic management (ATM) modernization project.  The grant continues USTDA support of transportation, and particularly aviation, projects in Serbia and Montenegro.  

Mr. Roderick W. Moore, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, signed the grant on behalf of the U.S. Government.  Mr. Nikola Stankov, Director General of SMATSA, signed on behalf of the Grantee.  Also in attendance was Mr. Patrick Hughes, Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, and Mr. Zoran Latific, SMATSA Modernization Project Manager.

The proposed modernization project would substantially increase the efficiency, safety and reliability of the air traffic management system in Serbia and Montenegro.  The SMATSA modernization program encompasses the following systems: ATM Data Processing, Communications, Navigation, Surveillance, Meteorological Equipment, and Buildings and Infrastructure. 

The assistance supported by today’s grant will help SMATSA as it develops its technical and tender request documentation and risk evaluation criteria.  In addition to the USTDA grant, SMATSA will contribute resources toward the cost of the technical assistance.  The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit research corporation based in McLean, Virginia, will perform the technical assistance. 

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.  The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.  USTDA’s strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.  In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.