16th April 2025, Washington - As part of the IMF/WB Spring Meetings taking place in Washington, Minister of Finance Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska participated in a roundtable, where a five-year capacity development program for the newly established regional Southeast Europe Technical Assistance Center (SEETAC) of the International Monetary Fund, was presented.
The Center, which operations are expected to commence no later than January 2027, will join the International Monetary Fund’s global network of regional capacity development centers, which will provide support for the six Western Balkan countries and Moldova in strengthening institutions, advancing policymaking, and implementing reforms in line with the EU Standards.
During the meeting, Minister Dimitrieska-Kochoska that the establishment of SEETAC marks an important step in deepening cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, as well as further strengthening economic governance across the region.
“As a country, we express clear and strong support for the launch of this regional center, which will serve as an important instrument for accelerating the reforms and strengthening the institutions. SEETAC will provide access to high-level expertise and hands-on technical assistance, thus directly contributing to more effective policies, sound public finances, and greater economic resilience. This constitutes a significant investment in both the region’s capacities and our EU accession prospects,” the Minister noted.
The discussion reaffirmed the need for further strengthening of institutional capacities, enhancing public finance management as prerequisites for sustainable economic growth and faster integration into the European Union.
These efforts remain strong and are steadily advancing, particularly in the light of the reforms related to EU accession.
Within the first phase of its operations, SEETAC will focus on broadening fiscal space, improving revenue collection, enhancing public spending efficiency, strengthening monetary and financial policies, as well as advancing statistical and analytical capacities.
This Center will provide continuous support through resident advisors, experts, trainings, workshops, and regional initiatives, with the aim of ensuring more efficient implementation of reforms and strengthened regional cooperation.
Importance of partnership among member countries, IMF, and donors was further emphasized at the meeting, with the total budget for the first five years amounting to US$ 70.4 million.
During the Spring Meetings, Minister of Finance took part at the meeting of the Dutch Constituency, of which our country is a member alongside 15 other countries: The Principality of Andorra, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Republic of Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Luxembourg, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, the Netherlands, and Ukraine.
The meeting also tackled upon the challenges the global economy confronts, as well as the geopolitical tensions and rising uncertainty, thereby also underlining the impact of the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the military operations in the Middle East, particularly through both their direct effect on oil and gas prices and the disruption of key trade routes, alongside the measures and policies aimed at addressing these repercussions.
In Washington, Dimitrieska-Kochoska also held meetings with representatives of several international financial institutions and corporations
