News
11/28/2018 14:16
Deputy Prime Minister in
charge of European Affairs, Bujar Osmani, in the role of National IPA
Coordinator (NIPAC), together with his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister in
charge of Economic Affairs, Kocho Angjushev chaired today's meeting of the
National Investment Committee in its full composition, in addition to the
Government representatives, were beside Government's representatives took part
the largest donors of foreign assistance for major projects in Macedonia.
"Allow me, on behalf of
the Government, to express my sincere gratitude for your participation through
donations in the construction of a modern, advanced European society in
Macedonia, as part of the strategy of interconnectivity of the countries of the
Western Balkans, but also their connection with the European Union",
stated Osmani at the beginning of his address, pointing out that so far, only
through the instrument "Western Balkans Investment Framework" (WBIF),
112.8 million euros were spent for the implementation of 29 projects financed
by the European Commission.
Furthermore, Osmani referred
to the donors for the activities undertaken in the period between the two NIC
meetings, in regard to utilise the potentials for donor funds in the
implementation of the major investment projects.
"Within the third call
from the WBIF investment framework, the two projects we submitted, in a total
amount of about 23 million euros, received a political green light at the
Summits in London and Sofia, as well as a positive assessment by WBIF, where we
expect a final approval next month," Osmani stressed, thus pointing to the
projects for reconstruction of the section" Bukojachani - Kichevo" as
part of the roadway Gostivar - Kichevo in an amount of over 20 million euros,
as well as the project for expansion of the road section Kriva Palanka - border
crossing point "Deve Bair" Bulgaria, amounting to over 2.5 million,
as two major projects of the third call of WBIF whose implementation is
expected to begin soon.
In addition, Osmani also
informed about the new list of priority investment projects, which the
Government adopted at yesterday's session, defining the projects for which
donors will be able to contribute with grants in their implementation within
the fourth WBIF call. "There are 108 significant projects for the country
on the list, sorted according to priority for their implementation determined
by the Government, and for which, in the next period the Government will
dedicate itself to their implementation by providing grants, but also through
loans and budget financing", stressed Osmani, pointing out the big
projects for which grants will be sought, such as the Skopje-Blace highway to
connect Macedonia with the Kosovo, where a grant of Euro 26.7 million will be
requested, followed by a joint railway border crossing with Serbia on Tabanovce
in the amount of over 5 million euros, as well as the gasification with the
Republic of Greece of 10 million euros.
In addition to the meeting of
the National Investment Committee (NIC), the line ministers referred to donors
for the proposed projects in their sectors, their impact on the country's
development, and about the opportunities for donors to participate in their
implementation through grants.