Skopje, 23 May 2025 (MIA) - The signing of a Government-to-Government Partnership (G2G) marks a new era for UK-North Macedonia relations, which will boost trade and drive economic growth, the British Embassy in Skopje said in a press release. 

"This Partnership supports the delivery of critical infrastructure projects across various sectors, including transport, health, energy, and technology. It will be able to draw on a wide range of support, including technical assistance programmes and up to £5 billion in UK Export Finance support available for projects in North Macedonia," reads the press release. 

This G2G, it adds, underscores the commitment of both nations to collaborate on critical infrastructure projects that deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits. 

"By leveraging the expertise and innovation of both countries, this Partnership will drive the development of resilient infrastructure that fosters growth and prosperity. The exchange of knowledge and best practice between our two countries will be central to this G2G, drawing from the expertise of both nation’s respective infrastructure fields. This means the UK Government and British businesses working in partnership with the government of North Macedonia and their local supply chain to deliver infrastructure projects across North Macedonia. This approach will generate mutual benefits for both nations through the sharing of innovation to deliver resilient infrastructure that drives growth," the British Embassy said. 

UK Ambassador Matthew Lawson said in an interview with 360 Degrees that this is a pivotal moment in UK-North Macedonia relations. 

According to the Ambassador, the G2G agreement is really about a step change in terms of a strategic partnership on investment between the two countries. It includes businesses and governments working together in partnership, technical assistance from British government departments to support infrastructure projects. 

"You've heard the Government already talking about the two priorities - high-speed rail and health infrastructure. What the citizens can really expect from this is high-quality and quick infrastructure builds with British expertise, built to British standards. Part of the Government-to-Government Partnership that’s so exciting is that we’ll be bringing government institutions on our side to support with technical assistance. For example, we will have NHS specialists working with your government on the hospital build, and we will have the Crossrail consortium, if the Government wants it, we’ve offered it, which is the consortium that built and designed the very complicated engineering feat of the east-west London rail transportation network. We’re bringing that technical expertise to bear. On the finance side, as I think you’ve seen from the announcements from our Government, there is a UK Export Finance envelope which provides the financing agreement. There’s a total of £5 billion as an envelope within that agreement and the Government is so far looking at using under that facility around £2 billion, but if we convert it to Euros it’s a little bit more, around £2 billion pounds of that facility for strategic rail and hospitals," said Ambassador Lawson. 

Photo: MIA / British Embassy