Attracting new investments, improving the living standard through rise in salaries and support for companies in conditions of a corona crisis, were the main topics at today’s meeting between Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi and Montenegro Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajic.
At the meeting realized within the official visit of Bytyqi to Montenegro, the interlocutors agreed that in the post-Covid period, the Western Balkans have a great chance to be recognized as an attractive region for new investments of companies from the region, but also of large international corporations due to the closeness to EU countries and due to the current processes, which will increase competitiveness.
According to Bytyqi and Spajic, the increase of minimum wage impacts the increase of the living standard of citizens and the increase of all salaries in the economy.
During the discussion, Bytyqi emphasized that in the past four years, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia in an inclusive dialogue with unions and chambers of commerce managed to increase the minimum wage by about 56 percent. The inclusiveness and transparency, he assessed, is a process that is applied in adopting all strategies, policies, programs and measures, in the direction of their efficiency and effectiveness.
As Bytyqi’s Cabinet announced, at the meeting they also exchanged experience on supporting the economy and the citizens at times of a COVID crisis. The budgets of the countries, was said, have been put in function of supporting the health system and maintaining liquidity of the economy, as well as for keeping jobs, but also for development projects for a quicker post-COVID recovery.
Minister Spajic informed Deputy Prime Minister Bytyqi about the program “Europe Now” and about all the benefits that the citizens will get with the implementation of this program.
The excellent relations between the two countries were noted at the meeting, and an unequivocal determination for further deepening of the cooperation at all levels was expressed.
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
