Skopje, 14 September 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi held a meeting Thursday with the World Bank’s Country Director for the Western Balkans, Europe and Central Asia, Xiaoqing Yu, who is one of the speakers at the annual Skopje Economic Finance Forum (SEFF), set to be held Friday by the Ministry of Finance.

“SEFF, as an initiative by the Ministry of Finance, provides an opportunity to bring together and encourage a debate between policymakers, political representatives, international development partners, civil society, the academic and expert community, the business sector, with the intention to raise ideas and initiatives which for us, as an institution, represent a very important contribution in the creation of measures and policies aimed at economic recovery, and inclusive, accelerated, and green growth,” said Minister Besimi, voicing gratitude to the Country Director for accepting the invitation to participate in the discussion at the Forum.

The Minister stressed that the World Bank Group is a key partner for the country in the creation and implementation of reforms and projects which are being realized with its support through the Partnership Framework. The projects are aimed at improving municipal infrastructure, construction of roads, modernization of agriculture, improving energy efficiency, as well as reforms in the social sphere and primary education.

Besimi and Yu also spoke about the new Partnership Framework, which is in the final stage and is expected to be approved by the end of the year. The new program for the 2024-2028 period is focused on strengthening human capital, environmental protection and responding to climate change.

Besimi, according to the Ministry of Finance, noted the activities undertaken by the Ministry with the goal of maintaining macroeconomic stability and prudent public finance management, fiscal consolidation and the application of the set rules in the new Law on Budgets.

The SEFF conference on the theme of “Europe Yes, Europe Now” will be held Friday in Skopje. The World Bank’s Country Director for the Western Balkans, Europe and Central Asia, Xiaoqing Yu, will address the “European and Regional Integration” panel, alongside Deputy Prime Ministers Bojan Marichikj and Slavica Grkovska; Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi; the Deputy Head of Delegation of the EU to the Republic of North Macedonia, Ben Nupnau; US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Eric Meyer; as well as the Chair of the Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee, Bojan Stojanovski.

The event will kick off with addresses by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi, and the EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, as the keynote speaker at the conference.

Photo: Ministry of Finance