Kumanovo, 6 March 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov, Kumanovo Mayor Maksim Dimitrievski and acting director of the Sports and Culture Foundation Mario Arangelovski signed agreements for national co-financing of the cross-border cooperation program with Bulgaria.

Kumanovo will implement a project on Improvement of Tourism Potential in Kjustendil and Kumanovo through a Modern Vision for the Regions, whereas the Sports and Culture Foundation will implement a project on Visual Arts Cooperation to Promote Region’s Cultural Identity.

Minister Penov said the northeast is the least developed region, despite Kumanovo being among the more developed cities in the country. He added that he spoke to Mayor Dimitrievski about projects that the city will implement in cooperation with the Ministry, alongside both projects they signed agreements for on Monday.

“We’ve had successful tourism and culture projects implementation in our cross-border cooperation. So far, we’ve used EUR 40 million and implemented 178 projects in this region. The implementation of the IPA 3 project will start in June, where an additional 30 million will be implemented, a chance for Kumanovo to apply and get a good chunk of this money in order to realize projects that will benefit its citizens,” said Minister Penov, adding that he hopes for successful cooperation.

Mayor Dimitrievski said the agreements are a result of good cooperation and the city is interested in future improvements, expecting the Ministry to use its positions and secure more funding towards regional development.

“I believe that the country can put effort towards securing more funds towards adequate regional development, which is more than necessary to implement serious capital regional projects, where the municipalities will be the direct users,” Dimitrievski said.

Acting director of the Sports and Culture Foundation Mario Arangelovski said the project on Visual Arts Cooperation to Promote Region’s Cultural Identity will be implemented within the deadlines.

“We are talking about cross-border cooperation. Our colleagues in Bansko are working on the rest of the project, and we are focused on paperwork for a short documentary that will be shot in about 60 days with the help of our Bulgarian colleagues, so that we can show it in the House of Artisans,” Arangelovski said.

Serious technical equipment has been obtained for the projects, meant to be used by the associations and citizens. dk/nn/

Photo: MIA