Besimi - Janovski: Multi-year USAID Grant Agreement signed, $ 8,2 million in the first year

The Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi, and the representative of the USAID Office in the country, Erik Janovski, signed a Grant Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the United States of America, in the presence of the US Ambassador to the country, Kate Marie Burns. It is a five-year Grant Agreement for Development Partnership, under which the Republic of Northern Macedonia in the first year will receive a grant of 8,2 million dollars to achieve three development goals: enhanced economic competitiveness, increased contribution of young people in society and reduced corruption.

At the signing, the Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi, emphasized that the United States is a long-term partner and supporter of the development of our country. He pointed out that we share a common vision for the country, ie economically developed, stable and inclusive multiethnic democracy, whose future is firmly embedded in the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

- With the agreement we signed today, USAID will provide support for enhanced economic competitiveness, a development goal that should contribute to increased productivity, expanded integration of Euro-Atlantic regional markets and enhanced security and safety. Furthermore, it will contribute to greater inclusion of young people in society, a development goal aimed at enhanced economic opportunities and improved social values ​​among young people, as well as reduced corruption, a development goal that will act towards increased public sector accountability, but also a strengthened culture of accountability of the citizens - said Besimi and added that these goals are in line with the strategies and efforts of the Government, which will create synergy and the targets will be realized faster.

- Corruption undermines the governance of the state, but also sabotages economic competitiveness, subverts the opportunities for young people and their future. This is why half of USAID's support under this Agreement is for the fight against corruption. Through this agreement, our relations with you, as the newest member of NATO, are no longer a donor-recipient relationship. We now have a redefined bilateral relationship as allies. We welcome this progress of the country and the contribution it has in the NATO alliance, but we also look forward to one day seeing Northern Macedonia in the role of a donor - said the US Ambassador, Kate Marie Burns.

Through USAID, the US Government has invested more than $ 1993 million in development assistance to the country since 830. The agreement we signed today regulates the terms of our support over the next five years, with $ 8,2 million set aside for the first year. But to be realistic, the real goal of a country is to end the need for development assistance. Therefore, with this new agreement, our relations are transformed into a strategic partnership, one through which the country undertakes and promotes its own development. We are proud of this support and the opportunity to co-invest in your development priorities, together with the private sector, donors and civil society, said the representative of the USAID Office, Erik Janovski.

Towards the realization of these goals, the US Government will cooperate with the authorities, central and local, but also directly with the affected social actors, namely businessmen and young people.

For Strengthened Economic Competitiveness, the US Government will work with the private sector to stimulate economic competitiveness and find innovative solutions to foster regional integration.

Activities are also envisaged to support the energy sector of Northern Macedonia, in order to improve the security, reliability and independence of the energy system through legal and market-oriented reform and access to Western investment and technology. The activity will help the Government increase investments in domestic energy production and reduce energy dependence by providing technical assistance for conducting feasibility studies.

Increased contribution of young people in society will be encouraged through activities aimed at supporting economic opportunities attractive to young people; strengthening skills for suitable jobs and career advancement; and promoting self-confidence and civic values ​​among young people, such as leadership, responsibility, legitimacy and striving for achievement.

Activities are also planned to support government institutions, the private sector, civil society and citizens in the fight against corruption. Accountability in the work of public institutions will be promoted, and government institutions will be engaged in a constructive way in order to improve the effectiveness and transparency in the spending of public funds. At the same time, the activities with the judiciary and the Government should be taken into account in order to implement the code of ethics and improve the openness of state institutions, agencies and local self-government as part of the Country Strategy for Transparency.

The United States, through USAID, has invested over $ 1993 million in the development of the Republic of Northern Macedonia since 830. The United States Government provides significant support to the Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia in implementing activities aimed at economic growth, stability and strengthening of democratic practices and institutions.

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