The long-standing partnership and support of the US in social and economic development as well as in Euro-Atlantic integration are valuable for our country in achieving the priorities, said Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi during Friday’s meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Matthew Palmer and US Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes at the sidelines of the Prespa Forum Dialogue.
During the meeting, according to the press release of the Ministry of Finance, they discussed the cooperation between the two countries and the prospects of our economy, and Besimi said that 2021 will be a year of recovery, after which we will work towards achieving the priority goals for accelerated growth and implementation of the European agenda.
“The priorities of the government and the Ministry of Finance are to achieve economic growth rates of 4% to 5% percent annually as well as wage growth of 20% to 30% in the medium term in order to improve the standard of living of citizens.
We will achieve this through the implementation of fiscal policy in the medium term, which will be aimed at investment, recovery and sustainable growth and fiscal consolidation. Major progress has already been made in this direction through the preparation of appropriate legislation that will be the basis for the implementation of these reforms such as: the new Law on Budgets, long-term fiscal strategy and public debt management strategy, strategy for tax reform, as well as an ambitious multi-year investment plan,” Besimi underlined.
As regards increasing investments, he added, the Ministry of Finance is in the final phase of activities geared towards Growth Acceleration Financing Plan, which aims at multiplying funds for investments by mobilizing private capital.
“This will contribute to multifold increase of investments, as well as implementation of fiscal consolidation,” Besimi noted.
Interlocutors expressed commitment to further enhance cooperation and partnership, as well as support for the realization of the priorities in building a better society and a stronger economy.
