Skopje, 3 November 2021 (MIA) – Local and regional development is one of the key goals of the government. To that end, the accelerated economic growth plan, the reform to improve fiscal decentralization and the 2022 draft-budget have been put into function, Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi said taking part in an event dedicated to the financing of infrastructural investments for sustainable local development and economic recovery, organized by UNDP. Capital investments in the next year’s draft-budget are 14 percent of overall expenditures, said Besimi. According to him, the ‘developing’ draft-budget is creating a climate of development of the whole country, including the municipalities. Under the reform on improving fiscal decentralization, more funding is awarded to the municipalities, the Minister added. Local and regional development will be also reflected in the accelerated economic growth plan, Besimi said. He announced that a fund on local and regional development will be set up aimed at supporting local self-governments and local and national public enterprises in order to expand and develop local infrastructure, provide quality local public services and improve local governance.