13th August 2024, Skopje – Capital expenditures have not been impacted under the 2024 Supplementary Budget. As per the figures, their amount is the same, only the funds therefrom have been reallocated to projects with intensified implementation dynamics, as underlined by Minister of Finance, Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska in her guest appearance in “Tema na denot” TV Show on Sitel TV news.
“When you look at the figures, you will notice that the amount thereof is the same. At this time, there is no room for any corruption and crime, the precisely projected funds are rather earmarked for implementing projects, which will produce value added. Capital expenditures kept the same level, in other words, funds have been reallocated from the capital infrastructure projects showing underperformance to the municipalities, given that all municipal projects will be completed for certain. We could not afford to allocate funds for capital investments that would not come to fruition.
She thereby added that no advance payments will be made for projects failing to deliver performance, these funds will be paid only on the basis of the yielded performance.
“Projecting EUR 250 million for Corridor 8 and 10d Motorway Project in times when expropriation is impossible is completely unproductive, given the bunch of problems, when you do not have your path set clear, more precisely, when you are aware that these funds will be used in corruptive dealings rather than for successful completion”, Dimitrieska-Kochoska pointed out. She pointed our that the respective EUR 250 million will be projected for realizing this Project next year, when the payments will be made on the basis of completed works, whereby activities have already been undertaken for commencing the implementation and the actual construction.
During the interview, the Minister also addressed the unions’ request for the minimum wage increase, the wage growth, the public debt level, as well as the implementation of railway infrastructure projects.
