Skopje, 28 October 2024 (MIA) – The 2025 budget will be developing, but the social component will not be abandoned either. Capital expenditures will be projected at over 44 billion denars and projections for budget deficit and GDP growth are laid out in the Fiscal Strategy, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska – Kochoska has announced.

It is a developing budget, she said, because a rising development will enable better living standards for everyone.

“Social welfare cannot be excluded completely. Measures will be taken to prequalify social welfare beneficiaries in order to find jobs. Also, there will be more focus on digitization of processes in the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth,” the Minister told MTV’s primetime television news programme.

She added that some of the projections that will be transferred into the 2025 budget were presented with the adoption of the Fiscal Strategy – 4% budget deficit and 3.7% GDP growth. 

“Everything envisaged in the budget will be implemented. Capital expenditures are planned somewhere over 44 billion denars, considered to be an excellent level amid the current conditions. Unlike before, we will focus on quality projects, including municipal projects. We won’t abandon the projected economic growth, because our focus is on supporting investments. This is what I confirmed in meetings win Washington with top officials of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank,” stated the Minister.

Dimitrieska – Kochoska added that more activity is expected as regards Corridor 8 and 10d projects, which will be implemented for a longer period than what was initially planned in four years, which, as she said, was welcomed by the IMF. 

The Minister emphasized that pays of teachers and health workers will raise. On minimum wage, she said that it should be related to productivity.

Regarding public debt, Minister Dimitrieska – Kochoska said it is likely that it will be at 64% by the end of the year.

MIA file photo