SKOPJE (North Macedonia), May 28 (SeeNews) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has approved a 2019-2024 country strategy for North Macedonia focused on private sector development, transition to a green economy and further regional integration, the bank said on Tuesday.
The strategy follows the resolution of the name dispute with neighbouring Greece which improved the external environment, the EBRD said in a press release.
“Amidst hopes of accelerating the European Union approximation process and growing investor confidence, the new strategy stresses that the pace of future reform is key,” the bank noted. "“Prospects for the acceleration of integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions, particularly EU approximation, continue to serve as a key structural reform anchor and a stabilising factor.
Improved ties with Greece and other neighbours are conducive to increased investor confidence, the bank said.
The EBRD priorities for the next five years are to support competitiveness by enhancing value chains, improving the skills of the workforce and strengthening governance, to strengthen regional integration and to support the process of EU approximation; and to support the transition to a green economy through a more sustainable energy mix and greater resource efficiency.
The EBRD said it expects North Macedonia’s real economic growth to accelerate to 3% in 2019 from an estimated 2.7% in 2018 on the back of strong growth in exports and recovery of consumption, both in private and public sectors.
($ = 0.89295 euro)