Skopje, 11 July 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban agreed Thursday in Washington on the establishment of special economic cooperation. In this regard, the countries' finance ministries will launch a process of securing a loan from the Hungarian to the Macedonian government in the amount of EUR 500 million at a 3.25-percent interest, a 3-year grace period and 12-year repayment period.

"Today, we had an exceptionally productive meeting with the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban. We discussed several topics, including one that is maybe most important for the citizens, namely the establishment of special economic cooperation between the two governments, leading to financial stability for the Macedonian economy. The countries' finance ministries will immediately launch a process through which the Hungarian Government will provide a loan to the Macedonian Government in the amount of EUR 500 million at a 3.25-percent interest, 3-year grace period and a 12-year repayment period," said PM Mickoski after the meeting.

According to him, the special economic cooperation ensures that additional support for the Macedonian economy can be sought if necessary.

"These EUR 500 million will be used in the following way: EUR 250 million as direct support for the Macedonian economy. These funds cannot be obtained at the financial markets under these conditions. The remaining EUR 250 million will be intended specifically for capital projects in municipalities and the citizens' needs," says Mickoski.

The 75th NATO anniversary summit ends later today and the Macedonian delegation will leave for New York, where it is scheduled to meet with the Macedonian diaspora over the next two days, the Government said in a press release.

Photo and video: Government of RNM