Skopje, 17 February 2022 (MIA) – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Ljupcho Nikolovski, and Director of the Agency for Financial Support in Agriculture and Rural Development, Nikica Bachovski, awarded on Thursday agreements within measure 7 on “Farm Diversification and Business Development” under the IPARD 2 programme. According to Nikolovski, the latest call saw 110 applications approved for a total of EUR 13.5 million financial support, and the value of approved investment totals EUR 22 million. He added that funds within measure 7 have been requested for investment in accommodation facilities, veterinary services, procurement of equipment for the production of food products and beverages, while applicants come from different parts of the country which would trigger balanced regional development, development of rural areas, and opening jobs. “Measure 7 has wide application and offers support for various investments in several areas, including food industry, construction of hotels, camps, museums, furniture production, clothing, solar hot water systems, installation of photovoltaic systems, bakery products, etc. I’m glad this call saw great interest. We expect complete use of funds,” Nikolovski said. Such investments, he added, develop the most powerful part of economy – the small and medium enterprises. Director of the Agency for Financial Support in Agriculture and Rural Development, Nikica Bachovski, said 2,257 projects whose value of investment totals over EUR 69 million have been approved within all measures under the IPARD 2 programme. In addition, 1,948 projects have been fully implemented, while 1,781 applicants fully completed the investments with EUR 21.8 million returned to their accounts, directly into domestic economy. Minister Nikolovski reiterated he expected a minimum of EUR 30 million larger budget under the IPARD 3 programme, i.e. at least 50 percent more with regards to IPARD 2.