26th October 2024, Skopje – Macedonian Government remains committed to both carrying out projects implemented with the support of the World Bank and the possibility to implement as many projects as possible under the approved Country Partnership Framework amounting to around US$ 700 million. WB support is extended in continuity, as it will be extended in the coming period as well – signifying support to the country’s development agenda, as pointed out at the meetings held between the Minister of Finance, Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, and the Vice President of the Europe and Central Asia Region at the World Bank, Antonella Bassani, and the World Bank Country Director for the Wester Balkans, Xiaoqing Yu, which took place at WB Headquarters.
“Implementing reforms with the support of the World Bank is a continuous process, with such support to be provided in the coming period as well. At the moment, ten projects, amounting to over US$ 460 million, are being implemented. The projects are aimed at improvement of the local infrastructure, road construction and infrastructure, modernization of agriculture, energy efficiency, reforms in the social sector, the primary education and the public administration. Reforms will continue to be implemented in the coming period as well by implementing the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework 2024-2028 by focusing on improving the quality of public service delivery, productivity growth and job creation, as well as increasing climate resilience”, Minister Dimitrieska-Kochoska said.
She also underlined that activities are being undertaken, aimed at increasing the institutions’ capacities for greater absorption and implementation of projects which IFIs, including the World Bank, have approved funds for.
During the meeting, importance of the continuous support extended by the World Bank Group for the reforms in North Macedonia was emphasized, which reforms underpin the policies of the new Government aimed at creating sound basis for ensuring macroeconomic stability and accelerated economic growth.
Meetings at WB Headquarters which the Minister attended, with the Governor of the National Bank, Anita Angelovska-Bezhoska, also participating, took place within the 2024 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington. Earlier, the Minister and the Governor also had meetings with high officials from the International Monetary Fund. The Minister also met with other IFIs, institutions included in the process of Eurobond issuance, as well as her peers, ministers of finance, who also participated in the 2024 IMF/WB Annual Meetings in Washington.