19th April 2026, Skopje – During the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, taking place in Washington, Minister of Finance, Gordana Dimitrieska‑Kochoska, held a meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director, Bo Li. At the meeting, the Government’s efforts for further fiscal consolidation and narrowing the budget deficit below 3% in the medium term were noted and welcomed.
“Both the Government and the Ministry of Finance are firmly pursuing gradual fiscal consolidation, while at the same time supporting economic growth through substantial capital expenditures projected in the Budget. Preserving stable public finances remains a key priority, with particular focus placed on the global developments, as well as the challenges they create for small and open economies such as ours,” the Minister said.
She indicated that, alongside ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts, a range of measures has been undertaken to maintain and strengthen economic activity, yielding positive outcomes in the second half of 2024 and throughout 2025, with growth rates accounting for around 3% or even higher.
During the meeting, it was underscored that the pursuit of fiscal consolidation is essential for creating fiscal space, thereby allowing the fiscal policy to respond during periods of crisis, thus also highlighting the ongoing measures implemented to support the business sector and citizens in the context of rising energy prices resulting from the Middle East conflict. The Minister underscored the Government’s prudent approach, including the monitoring of developments and the adoption of appropriate measures in addressing emerging challenges.
Officials noted and acknowledged the findings of the IMF Article IV Mission conducted in the past month, also referring to the forthcoming implementation of public finance reforms supported by the IMF’s substantial expertise.
The launch of a new initiative to support the Western Balkan countries and Moldova in strengthening institutions, enhancing policymaking, and implementing reforms in line with the EU Standards was also welcomed.
Minister of Finance concluded her working visit to Washington with a meeting with the IMF Deputy Managing Director, where she took part in the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings , held discussions with senior IMF and World Bank officials, met with representatives of the U.S. Treasury and the State Department, while also meeting representatives of multiple international financial institutions and corporations.
