Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Ganjie (Front) speaks at the opening of the 40th Civil Engineering Fair in Budva, Montenegro, Sept. 19, 2018. The 40th Civil Engineering Fair opened here on Wednesday. Seven Chinese companies, including China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), presented their recent projects at the fair. (Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)

BUDVA, Montenegro, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Highlighted as special part of the 40th Civil Engineering Fair that opened here on Wednesday, Chinese companies set to tap into new engagements and local partnerships through presentation of their technology, experience and knowhow in their past successful projects.

The fair opened in the coastal city of Budva at the ground of the Adriatic Fair together with the 13th Water Supply Systems and Sanitary Technologies Fair and the 6th Energy Fair, with China as the partner country.

Seven Chinese companies, including China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), presented their recent projects in the region and other parts of the world.

Rajko Bujkovic, executive manager of the Adriatic Fair, who opened the fair, told Xinhua that in regard to the partner country status, Chinese companies have better visibility at the fair that represents a "business gate of Montenegro".

"The potentials of Chinese companies are immense, while their opportunities are great, as they are already present at the market and additionally represent ongoing projects, which is a great opportunity for them to gain recommendation for future projects," said Bujkovic.

"They are engaged in the greatest project in Montenegro (Bar-Boljare highway), but each presentation opens new possibilities for projects in the future," he said, reminding that China is a powerful economy whose companies are also significant contractors and investors in Montenegro.

He continued that Chinese companies are highly competitive thanks to the technology they are offering, "which is far superior to that used in Montenegro, as well as in the global market".

"Chinese companies have great job opportunities in the region and it seems to me that there isn't a single significant project where they are not engaged in," he estimated.

Bujkovic explained that while infrastructure projects such as Bar-Boljare highway give results in the long run, employment of domestic companies as contractors enables them to employ their existing capacities as well as gain fresh knowhow. In the meantime, Chinese high-quality products are distributed to the local market by Montenegrin companies.

In his speech, Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Ganjie estimated that the fair plays an important role in technology exchange, business cooperation and infrastructure in the region, and expressed his hope that the engineering companies from China and Central and East European (CEE) countries would advocate for green development in order to "contribute to joint effort in improving sustainability and building a clean, beautiful and green Belt and Road".

"It is my sincere hope that the entrepreneurs present here today can use this opportunity to enhance communication and exchange and learn from one another on sustainable infrastructure building, green building, clean energy and environmental engineering," he said.

"China and CEE countries will build on the longstanding and traditional friendship as a solid station to build further and deepen our environmental exchange and cooperation," Li concluded.

Milutin Simovic, Vice Prime Minister of Montenegro, estimated that the Bar-Boljare highway project, with CRBC as the main contractor, once realized will turn the country into one of European business hubs, as well as improve safety of transport.

The fair aims to create opportunity for exhibitors from the region and beyond to enter the Montenegrin market and establish economic cooperation and direct approach to the buyers and clients.

Among the Chinese companies is CCECC, who just finished the Kolasin-Kos railway rehabilitation project of Montenegro last year.

According to Zhu Tianran, general director CCECC Montenegro Ltd., the company presented its achievements in the international market in the fields of railway construction, which is its core business, together with road construction, as well as the corporate social responsibilities in countries where they operate.

"CCECC aims to show its strength and experience, to expand its influence and to attract potential local partners, creating conditions for more participation in infrastructural projects in the Balkan area," Zhu said.

Meanwhile, representatives of local companies see Chinese companies as reliable, experienced, competitive and technologically advanced.

Dragan Markovic, official of the public enterprise for coastal zone management, told Xinhua that his company invests several million euros in infrastructural works, and welcomes companies from all sides to compete.

"Chinese companies appear as convincing and serious, but our projects are not so huge as highways... Chinese companies are already present at this market through the capital infrastructure projects they are engaged on, which are both of immense importance to them as well as their Montenegrin partners. They are also welcome to participate in smaller projects with their technology and knowhow," he assured.

Momcilo Stojanovic, member of the award jury for the best presentation of the fair, told Xinhua that he sees Chinese companies as "highly professional".

"They are very serious and I am not surprised because of the comprehensive and fast expansion of the Chinese model of economy in Montenegro, Europe and the whole world", he said.

Speaking about the potentials for Chinese companies, he said that China is among the most technologically advanced countries in the world, and that the realization of projects of its companies in Montenegro is impressive.