Prilep, 14 September 2023 (MIA) – A new Eurobond will not be issued until the end of 2023, while a new loan from the World Bank would provide funds for important projects, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said on Thursday in response to a reporter's question on the issuance of the latest Eurobond.

He added that borrowing on the domestic and international market in North Macedonia is regulated by the Public Debt Strategy, which the Parliament approves along with the budget.

"We issued a new Eurobond at the beginning of the year, at the end of the first quarter, and it was used to repay the Eurobond that was issued in 2016. It was used to pay for all the disintegrating styrofoam, the palm trees in Vardar river, bridge statues that cost EUR 2-3 million. So, it has been repaid. A new Eurobond will not be issued until the end of the year, and borrowings will be made in accordance with the Public Debt Strategy, either with government bonds or project financing," Kovachevski said.

He added that next week he will visit the United States for a high-level meeting with the World Bank on discussing a loan for funding projects in North Macedonia.

"Talks are already underway on important projects in promoting many areas in the country that will be financed by the World Bank. Negotiations have been finalized, and I expect to hear good news at the meeting regarding a start of new procedures. As a result, North Macedonia will have funds, whose amount I cannot state at the moment, but it will be really significant. Those funds will be used for state and local level projects," Kovachevski pointed out. ssh/nn/