Skopje, 3 November 2023 (MIA) — The International Finance Corporation is interested in supporting North Macedonia's investments in renewables, according to Visar Pirani, World Bank Group's IFC country officer for Kosovo and North Macedonia at a meeting Friday with Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic Issues Fatmir Bytyqi.

According to an official press release, the meeting was a follow-up to the recent talks Deputy PM Bytyqi had with senior representatives of IFC in Washington.

Thanking the IFC's for its interest in developing the country's private sector investments in renewable energy sources, Bytyqi also stressed the need of near-shoring, especially evident after the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Pirani said the IFC was ready to discuss ways of cooperation between the government of North Macedonia and IFC on projects of interest to the country through facilitating access to finance and supporting the private sector in improving the energy supply.

The IFC country officer told Bytyqi that in January 2024, the World Bank would adopt a new strategy, which would lay out detailed possibilities for new investments, especially in renewables, the release says. mr/