11th April 2023, New York – Republic of North Macedonia is a member state of the United Nations for 30 years already, contributing to resolving international conflicts and maintaining peace and security. Now, as a NATO member, the country continues contributing to maintaining global security and peace, with its commitment to become member of the European Union aimed at ensuring development and economic prosperity,
Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi, pointed out at the meetings with Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Amina Mohammed, and Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator and the new Director for the Regional Bureau for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ivana Živković, which took place at UN Headquarters.
“North Macedonia is dedicated to activities focused on country’s development and prosperity, in view of the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals. We have established close cooperation and partnership with the UN, and we are together preparing National Development Strategy, which defines and depicts the development path of our country in the upcoming 20 years. Economic development, environment protection and energy, as well as public finances, are the main areas identified in the Strategy, which is to be finalized by the end of this year”, Minister Besimi said.
He also pointed out the continuous support from this international organization, in particular the support extended for the Green Agenda or environment protection, enhanced decentralization, eradication of grey economy, etc.
“I gladly confirm that our country is one of the nine countries being approved a project support under the Sustainable Development Goals Fund, especially, the Green Financing Facility to Improve Air Quality and Combat Climate Change. Project’s goal is to provide easier access to funds for projects in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency for household and small- and medium-sized enterprises. US$ 7.9 million is provided from the SDG Fund, with the Government co-financing US$ 800,000, worth a combined US$ 46.5 million, including the co-funding coming from EBRD and the participating banks. Final beneficiaries are expected to have the funds available towards mid-2023. This will provide for accelerating the transition to and the use of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency, thus contributing to reduction of air pollution. The Project will be implemented by a team of UN agencies – UNDP, IOM and UNECE – in partnership with EBRD”, the Minister said. Together with the UN, we undertake activities for enhancing the fiscal decentralization, putting two Funds in operation – Equalization Fund and Performance Fund – as per the Law on Local Government Financing, as well as strengthening the capacities of the municipalities to collect own revenues. Activities are also undertaken aimed at eradicating the informal economy and supporting the areas most affected by the energy and the price crisis, and Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and UNDP for supporting the respective areas has already been signed.
In addition to the meetings held in UN Headquarters, during his visit to the USA, the Minister of Finance will take part in the 2023 Spring Meetings and have meetings with high-level WB/IMF officials.
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