Skopje, 6 August 2024 (MIA) - Implementing projects that bring added value, contribute to GDP growth, and benefit the citizens is what the country needs right now. Projects that will mean lower costs for companies and will ease the conditions for doing business, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska said regarding the project for construction of the railway on Corridor 8.

"The key point is to secure the same terms and resources as we did for Corridor 8, but for a different project. The end goal is to obtain the same funding for the railway on Corridor 10 as we did for Corridor 8. How we phrase it is irrelevant. What matters to the citizens is what they will gain, namely a project with added value, a project that will save them money, because the other project from Corridor 8 ends in a so-called “dead end.” Whether we call it a new application or repurposing, essentially what we are getting with Corridor 8 is the same as wheat we are asking for Corridor 10. Citizens don’t focus on whether it’s a new application or something else; they’re interested in the project’s benefits, and that’s the main point," Dimitrieska-Kochoska said during an interview on Macedonian Radio.

She added that there is regular daily communication and coordination with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport and Communications, especially regarding the implementation of major infrastructure projects.

According to Dimitrieska-Kochoska, the goal is to enable companies to transport goods by rail from the port of Thessaloniki, which is closer and reduces costs, and to further cut these costs with the implementation of the Corridor 10 project.

“This is crucial from the standpoint of the prices of products that Macedonian companies will export abroad. Another challenge facing this government is the upcoming decarbonization. This raises the question of what kind of policy the government should adopt if we are currently engaged in activities that do not add value for companies or contribute to reducing their costs,” she noted.

Dimitrieska-Kochoska pointed out that this does not mean that the project for the construction of the railway on Corridor 8 is being disputed, but she believes that efforts should focus on projects that will contribute to GDP growth, ensure liquidity for fulfilling obligations, and enable us to consider Corridor 8 and railway construction in the future.

In the interview, the Finance Minister noted that she expects the projected GDP growth for the year to be supported by the implementation of projects planned in the local budget revisions, including those managed by municipalities and other relevant ministries. She also expects a strong commitment to their execution.

Dimitrieska-Kochoska announced that preparations for the 2025 budget are already underway. She noted that there are ongoing challenges related to damages that are being addressed through the current budget revision. She mentioned that progress will be made step by step with significant measures for fiscal consolidation.

Photo: MIA archive