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Bekteshi: Cutting unproductive spending opens possibility for new measures for citizens

Bekteshi: Cutting unproductive spending opens possibility for new measures for citizens
Skopje, 13 May 2022 (MIA) – Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi told TV 21 Friday evening that by cutting the expenditures with the budget rebalance, the Government opens up the possibility for a new set of measures for citizens. He noted that the budget rebalance will significantly reduce expenditures in relation to unproductive spending and other expenditures by budget users. In this way, according to Bekteshi, we consider the possibility if there is a need for new measures with one goal of helping the citizens. Regarding the issue of the situation with cooking oil, Minister Bekteshi pointed out that North Macedonia has enough quantities to meet domestic needs. “There is general perception that we import 100 percent from Serbia, which is not true. North Macedonia mainly imports unrefined oil and sunflower from the Republic of Bulgaria and is currently imported from Ukraine, because traders, certainly in cooperation with state institutions, have opened various corridors to import the oil,” Bekteshi said. He said that in order to be more supportive and to increase trade between our countries, we thought it appropriate to export refined cooking oil. As for the unrefined oil and sunflower, we currently have sufficient quantities for production. Reducing the price of cooking oil depends on the world market and import prices. But if all the corridors of imports are opened from Ukraine, which is the largest producer of sunflower not only in Europe but also beyond, then I believe prices would stabilize," Bekteshi said.