Skopje, 22 July 2023

The Governor of the National Bank, Anita Angelovska Bezhoska, had a meeting with the Manager of the World Bank Office in the country, Massimiliano Paolucci, within the consultations for the new five-year Cooperation Framework with the World Bank. At the meeting, the World Bank representatives discussed the preparation of the new partnership framework intended for supporting an inclusive, sustainable and green growth of the domestic economy. The National Bank, as one of the key economic policy makers, supports the development of the strategic documents that aim to contribute to improving the structure and strengthening of the growth potential of our economy. Moreover, the National Bank has regular and successful cooperation with international financial institutions, such as the World Bank. 

Subject matter of the meeting were the main achievements, but also challenges for the development of our economy, such as productivity, fiscal sustainability, human capital, infrastructure, adjustment to climate changes and good institution management. During the meeting, the participants also discussed the development of human capital, in terms of both quantity (inclusion in labor) and quality (skills and productivity), the improvement of the access to markets, as well as to finance, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, the improvement of infrastructure, as well as the climate challenges and the acceleration in green transition. This would help our country to pass toward a competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth model, which will open more and better jobs, during the accession process to the EU.

The Governor emphasized that the implementation of the structural reforms in the Macedonian economy and the improved utilization of labor, capital and productivity are the only way to increase the growth potential of our economy and accelerate convergence. Hence, the proper identification of priorities, together with the support from the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, for their fulfillment are crucial for the economic progress of our economy.