The project, “Improvement of Banat Connectivity (IBC), was created from the needs of the inhabitants along both sides of the border, for better interconnection and passability. Although this border crossing belongs to the international category, it operates only from 7.00 to 19.00 hours daily, and it is allowed the transport of goods with vehicles of a maximum carrying capacity up to 3.5 t. With the planned works on the Serbian side, it will be created the necessary technical conditions, as well as the security and control standards that already exist on the Romanian side of the border. Thus, it is envisaged that a roof over the control room will be built, additional control booths will be provided, as well as electronic ramps for each traffic lane, video surveillance and light signalization. The project also envisages the construction of a toilet for passengers, as well as a space where will be possible the work of the post office, banks, freight forwarders, etc… In order to create technical conditions for the transport of goods with vehicles of higher capacity, platforms for controlling freight vehicles will be provided. By ensuring all previous technical conditions, the Serbian ministries of foreign and internal affairs will have additional arguments for amending the existing interstate agreement in terms of day-to-day financing (24h) and can also transport trucks through it. Given the proximity of the inhabited places, and the fact that Kikinda is located only 10 kilometers from the border, by construction of the bicycle lane, connections will be even more dynamic.

By the project, cooperation of the twin cities Kikinda and Jimbolia is raised up to the higher level; the connection has switched to a certain level of economic cooperation on the micro level, as well as the activities of the two local governments in resolving problems in the communal sphere. The macroeconomic plan has the biggest effect, which we expect to be even more significant when the project is realized. Due to the lack of labor in the western Romanian counties and the inability of Romanian and foreign companies to develop there, they had to look for another solution, and it’s called Kikinda. The first such step was made by the company “Zopas” from Semiclus mare, which was threatened with losing new jobs, as it could not increase further production in its Romanian border plant. Therefore, they opened a plant in Kikinda, which for the past year and a half, from the starter 30 workers, reached 440 workers and that during that time, no job at the main factory in Semiclus mare was abolished.

The realization of the IBC project will fully meet the objectives of the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Romania-Serbia, in which the project is being implemented and already in the field, the needs of people and the economy prove its unequivocal sustainability and expediency. The project is implemented by PC “Roads of Serbia”, as the project leader, the City of Kikinda, the Municipality of Jimbolia and the Regional Center for Socio – Economic Development Banat, as partners on the project, with the aim of contributing to better connectivity in the cross – border area through improvement of quality standards in public transport and mobility services, and the total value of the project is 1,813,477.53 €.