22nd January 2024, Skopje – At today’s meeting, Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi, and EBRD’s Managing Director for Central and South Eastern Europe, Charlote Ruhe, directed their attention to the topic – priorities and reforms we implement, leading the country towards EU and to a more rapid development, growth, better standard of living with support of the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
“Today, Republic of North Macedonia is hosting the Western Balkan leaders at “The Growth Plan: Western Balkans Meets EU” Conference. The activities undertaken by all stakeholders for the implementation of this significant instrument are moving at an increased rate, and this meeting should be seen as an additional impulse to its implementation. Being a country that is part of the region, as well as part of the Growth Plan, we are serious and earnest in our approach to its implementation. These are reforms that are forthcoming, reforms which we are defining together with and are being supported by our partners EBRD and EU”, Minister Besimi said.
He expressed his appreciation for the lent support by this international financial institution to our country in our march of progress and implementation of some major infrastructural projects. “Just one month ago, we closed, together with EIB, EBRD and EU through WBIF AND IPA Program, the financing of the construction of the last railway section towards Bulgaria. With the support of these European financial institutions, we have secured funds for the completion of this decades-running project. On the to-do list, we have many other projects, but we have great expectations above all as to the support of the energy sector, i.e. our transition toward green energy production,” Minister Besimi said.
At the meeting, additional financing amounting to around EUR 100 million for the construction of both the gas interconnector with Greece, representing an impact factor for this country in providing stability in the supply and diversification of sources, and the gas pipeline on the sections Sveti Nikole – Veles and Gostivar – Kichevo, was also discussed.
EBRD has supported 175 projects in the country in the amount of EUR 2.7 billion, 86% out of which amount is allocated to the public sector. At present, the portfolio of projects in their implementation phase amounts to EUR 819 million, including road section Bukojchani – Kichevo, Kriva Palanka – border crossing with Bulgaria, as well as rail section between Kumanovo and the border with Bulgaria, all part of Corridor 8, road section Skopje – Blace, rail joint border crossing – Tabanovce, wastewater treatment plants projects, regional landfills, photovoltaic plants, and the likes.
The meeting was held in Skopje on the sidelines of the Conference, dedicated to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, at which regions’ leaders met with representatives from the EU, the USA and the international institutions.
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