Montenegro Airport Concession Scandal: South Korean Firm Nearly Eliminated Over Tiny Score Differences!
Have you ever seen scores counted like election votes, with a South Korean company almost kicked out of the race for Montenegro’s airport concession over a mere 0.3 point difference? Welcome to Montenegro, where tenders turn into full-blown drama!
South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) on the Brink of Elimination
At the start, IIAC was nearly disqualified because the commission claimed their technical offer was unsatisfactory. They even got zero points in some segments! Yes, zero! Because of a tiny 0.3 point difference, IIAC was practically excluded from the process. But wait, there’s more…
Legal U-Turn and Re-Evaluation
After legal advice and consultations with IFC, the government’s advisor, the commission had to admit that a zero score was invalid. They had to re-evaluate the technical offers of both bidders. The result? Both met minimum requirements and moved to the final phase — financial offer evaluation.
Financial Offers That Will Blow Your Mind
IIAC scored 96.18 points and offered a massive one-time financial compensation, while Luxembourg-American company Corporación América Airports (CAAP) scored 65.18 points with a smaller offer. Specifically, IIAC offers 35% variable annual concession fees, while CAAP offers only 17%. Investments? IIAC plans to invest 100 million euros, CAAP 50 million.
Tender Commission’s Double Standards
Commission president Nik Đeljošaj openly expressed frustration. IFC refused to answer his questions or take responsibility, complicating matters. The commission evaluated technical offers twice but missed including IIAC in the second round for financial evaluation, claiming tender rules were violated. Fair play or something fishy?
Montenegro Government and the Final Decision
The government extended the commission’s deadline to July 9 to finish and submit the report to the Ministry of Transport. After the commission’s final proposal, the government decides. But with all these twists and controversies, will the decision be transparent and fair?
Why Does This Matter?
This tender isn’t just business — it’s control over Podgorica and Tivat airports, Montenegro’s key gateways. The concession lasts 30 years, with multi-million euro investments and huge financial compensations. Will Montenegro get the best deal or just another political game?
Conclusion
This airport concession saga is a thriller with legal twists, suspicious scoring, dodged responsibility, and multi-million offers. Will justice prevail or will it end as another example of how big deals are done in Montenegro? Time will tell.
So, what do you think about this circus? Fair game or rigged from the start? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and remember — in the world of concessions, nothing is as it seems!
