The Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans is the fresh stimulus to support economic growth, it was emphasized Tuesday during the National Investment Committee’s meeting chaired by PM Zoran Zaev along with the EU Ambassador David Geer.
The Committee, government press service said, reviewed the projects list and determine which projects correspond to the EU Economic and Investment Plan, mobilizing up to €9 billion of grant funding from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Instrument IPA III for the period 2021-2027.
PM Zaev said that the funds are intended to investments covering the transport, energy, environment, twin green and digital transition and human resource development sectors.
“I believe that the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans will have a strong and positive impact on the economic recovery of the region, support the green and digital transition and encourage regional integration into the European Union. The national institutions present at the meeting will work with great commitment, in accordance with their competencies, in order to use the available funds. We are committed to stimulating the economy and investments by implementing fundamental reforms in line with European values,” Zaev said, adding that 23 projects with an estimated value of €2.1 billion in grants and loans have been realized in North Macedonia.
Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov pointed out the government’s future plans in terms of implementation of projects cover five priority areas – transport, environment, energy, social and digital transformation.
“We have decided to implement more credible, more dynamic and predictable investment agenda aimed building economic resilience to address the challenges such as the pandemic, but also sustainable, socially just and climate neutral economy,” Dimitrov said.
“To reap the benefits of this plan, supported by IPA III, and to ensure sustainable economic growth, we need to implement the reforms of the economic and financial dialogue with the EU under Economic Reform Programme (ERP),” Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi said, adding that dialogue under ERP should provide important guidelines for investment decisions under the Economic and Investment Plan and careful planning and resource prioritization.
Government officials, EU Ambassadors, senior representatives of international financial institutions, bilateral partners and the donor community with a permanent mission in North Macedonia also attended the online meeting.
The National Investment Committee is an advisory body which identifies strategic projects in transparent manner, primarily in the field of infrastructure, energy and transport connection of the Western Balkans and the EU, environmental protection and social and digital infrastructure.
