- Published: 02.01.2014.
Koncar wins contract to manufacture 44 trains for HZ
The contract was signed at Zagreb's Central Railway Station by HZ Putnicki Prijevoz CEO Drazen Ratkovic and Koncar Elektricna Vozila CEO Ivan Bahun. Also present at the signing ceremony were Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, Deputy PM Branko Grcic, and Transport Minister Sinisa Hajdas Doncic.
![Zagreb, January 31 2014](https://mmpi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/arhiva/HZ-UG-016_txt2.jpg)
This is the biggest purchase of trains since Croatia gained independence as the average age of passenger trains in the country is 30 years or more.
The Croatian government has provided guarantees for the job, and the first 800 million kuna has been secured through the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), while the rest of the funding will be secured by inviting bids for the most favourable type of financing, it was said at the ceremony.
![Zagreb, January 31 2014](https://mmpi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/arhiva/HZ-UG-035_txt3.jpg)
Koncar Electrical Industries (EI) CEO Darinko Bago said the job was important for all, including the state because it would receive around 400 million kuna of VAT on the 1.63 billion kuna job.
Only 30% of the most complex equipment will have to be employed for the job, around 3,000 workers will manufacture the trains and new workers will have to be hired as well.
![Zagreb, January 31 2014](https://mmpi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/arhiva/HZ-UG-037_txt4.jpg)
Minister Hajdas Doncic said the contract bore evidence to the government's commitment to investing in the railways. Apart from the new trains, also under way is the renovation of the railway infrastructure and logistical improvements, which will result in economies and better services, the minister said.