Skopje, 14 June 2022 (MIA) – The second project to prepare the Green Climate Fund, which will set up the foundations of future climate activities led by the country, has ended. The final event was organized by the cabinet of Fatmir Bytyqi, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Bytyqi’s office says that, during the event, he focused on the project’s benefits, such as “the finalization of the national working program for the Green Climate Fund with specific priorities and a detailed survey of project and program ideas by public and private actors on a national and local level in the identified priority sectors – energy, transport, water resources, agriculture, waste, biodiversity, healthcare, forestry and cultural heritage, which will be implemented as part of North Macedonia’s efforts to deal with climate change”. “The main step towards strengthening the private sector’s engagement in climate action and investments is the government’s recent decision from April 12 2022 to nominate the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development to be the first national subject to start the Green Climate Fund accreditation process,” the press release says. The Deputy PM pointed out the importance of the process of accreditation towards the Green Climate Fund, adding that the FITD will be the first Green Climate Fund accredited institution from the Western Balkans, with a direct access to the Fund’s funds, as an institution with experience in managing climate action projects which also offers innovative solutions. “This project lifts the Innovations Fund to the level of other international and Green Climate Fund accredited organizations, such as the World Bank, the UN’s agencies, EBRD, GIZ, EIB etc.,” Deputy PM Bytyqi said. In this context, Bytyqi and the FITD director Festim Halil signed a Cooperation Memorandum to strengthen their future partnership in order to inspire the private sector to take climate action. Their first step is to publish the first joint public call to challenge “Deal with Climate Change 2022”. Halil said that this is a true example for project sustainability and urgent action. “In addition to the government’s policies and stimulations to achieve climate goals and green development, we are giving the private sector the unique opportunity to create investments that will inspire innovation and climate action throughout the sectors,” he added. dk/ba/