19th February 2025, Skopje – By the end of this month, the first tranche under the Hungarian Loan Facilities, is to be transferred to companies as support therefor. Project-related applications have already been approved by some of the banks, with requests for disbursement being submitted to the Development Bank as stated at today’s meeting by Minister of Finance, Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska within the premises of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, covering the prevalent topics and the economic challenges.
“We are initiating a series of discussions with the business community, starting with today’s debate with the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia. “The objective of these meetings is to share information on making the funds under the Hungarian Loan Facility available to the companies, while addressing any potential concerns that may arise during this process” Minister of Finance pointed out during the meeting.
She further emphasized that the objective is to ensure full disbursement of the funds, as current support to the business sector, given the global developments, while also boosting investments, particularly those being sustainable and generating long-term growth.
According to the President of the Economic Chamber, Branko Azeski, the priority is to transfer the funds provided by the Government, to the companies as quickly as possible, thus allowing prompt investment implementation.
He welcomed the initiative for such meetings, where opinions on prevalent topics can be exchanged and issues affecting the companies raised.
The issue being also addressed at the meeting covered the refund of funds paid by companies as per the Law on Solidarity Tax.
Minister of Finance highlighted this as a major burden as regards the Budget, thereby indicating that the funds will be refunded to companies within a time period not exceeding five years. She also announced upcoming meetings with the companies so as to determine the refund dynamics thereto. The discussions will continue, and in the coming period, proposals will be prepared on the basis of which, further talks will take place to resolve this issue. Economic Chamber of North Macedonia representatives recognized the challenges as regards the State Budget, being open to discussions in view of setting the dynamics and the manner of refunding the funds.
Attendees concluded that the dialogue presents an opportunity to resolve all outstanding issues and that such dialogue between the Government and the business community will persist in the future, all to the end of creating better economic climate and increasing the economic predictability for business operations.
Dialogue with the business community will continue in the coming days, including meetings with other chambers of commerce and associations.
