Skopje, 25 July 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi alongside the CEO of the Macedonian Stock Exchange, Ivan Shteriev, symbolically, by ringing the bell, marked the beginning of trading with the popular bond on the Exchange on Tuesday. The popular bond was issued in July, and an auction held on July 13 saw a total of Mden 1.448.030.000 (EUR 23 million) investments in the bond.

“The citizens who participated in the auction on July 13, 2023, can trade with their bonds on the Exchange as of today, i.e., they have the opportunity to get their investments back before the end of maturity period. This also gives an opportunity to the citizens who did not participate in the auction to now buy a popular bond,” said Minister Besimi.

The citizens will be able to trade through the commercial banks or brokerage firms.

The CEO of the Exchange, Ivan Shteriev, said that the listing of the popular bond and the beginning of trade at the Exchange, apart from providing a centralized place for the holders to buy and sell bonds, also represents an expansion of the offer of financial instruments on our market.

“The great interest in these bonds during the primary offering affirm the Exchange’s thesis that there is a demand for quality and attractive instruments on the markets – there just has to be a will and knowledge how to use this. By issuing a popular bond, the Ministry of Finance recognized this and has acted in the right direction. We hope that this is only a beginning and that other new or similar offerings of state securities will follow, with the Exchange always standing ready to support these activities with the goal of further development of the investment culture and the Macedonian market of capital as a whole,” said Shteriev.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the popular bond, as a risk-free and secure instrument for the citizens, will be continuously present on the market and another offering of the bond is expected to be held before the end of the year. Additionally, by the end of the year the Ministry will issue another new instrument, a “green bond”, which will be aimed for both citizens and legal entities, with the funds to be used for green investments.

Photo: Ministry of Finance