PRISTINA (Kosovo), March 31 (SeeNews) – Kosovo’s government said it has approved a 179.6 million euro ($198.6 million) package intended to support coronavirus-affected sectors of the economy, boost health expenditures and assist socially vulnerable people - 9 million euro more than the draft unveiled last week.
Apart from the measures presented on Friday, the final emergency package includes an additional financial support of 6 million euro for enterprises that create new jobs during the period of restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as well as 3 million euro in economic aid for unemployed citizens who are not receiving any financial support from the state budget, the government said in a statement on Monday evening.
Under the package, a total of 61 million euro will be used to cover part of the expenses of businesses that have suffered losses as a result of the restrictions, including payment of salaries and social contributions for employees, as well as payment of up to 50% of rental expenses for two months.
The government also said that 20 million euro will be used to provide temporary liquidity for companies that have experienced a decline in regular income, 15 million euro will cover the cost of additional liquidity-boosting loans for small businesses and self-employed, while 15 million euro will be used to support medical staff, police and firefighters with additional payment for two months.
The package includes monthly financial assistance to pensioners for three months amounting to a total of 13 million euro, additional payment to all employees of grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies for two months (3 million euro) as well as three months of additional payment to over 98,000 citizens covered by existing economic aid schemes (7.6 million euro).
The emergency package also includes 10 million euro in support to exporters, 10 million euro for the affected municipalities, 5 million euro in grants for agriculture, 5 million euro in subsidies to sports and cultural associations, 4 million euro to provide monthly assistance for three months for all workers who lose their jobs during this period, as well as 2 million euro for initiatives and projects for improving the living conditions of minorities.
Kosovo’s finance minister Besnik Bislimi said on Friday that the emergency measures will be soon followed by an additional fiscal and monetary stimulus package for the economy with a medium-term timeline.
Last week, Kosovo's chamber of commerce urged the government to prepare an emergency package worth at least 300 million euro to support private companies suffering from the measures taken to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
Kosovo confirmed two new cases of the coronavirus disease on Tuesday, bringing the total number to 108, the national institute of public health said in a Facebook post.
Earlier, the government imposed a 13-hour curfew - from 5.00 pm to 6.00 am for all citizens in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.
($ = 0.90423 euro)