USAID MACEDONIA ECONOMIC GROWTH OFFICE

Economic reforms in Macedonia have been moving steadily forward but the economy has yet to show sufficient progress for full integration into the EU and global markets. Corruption, lack of finance and an unclear regulatory environment hinder economic growth and slow down foreign investment, which in turn results in high unemployment.

Since 1993, USAID has been working alongside the Macedonian government and the private sector to accelerate economic growth and improve Macedonia’s prospects for EU membership. USAID played a major role in Macedonia’s joining the World Trade Organization in 2003 and in passing new Laws on Electronic Communications, Financial Companies, Public Procurement and Investment Funds. Efforts to establish a single window process for import and export and introduce internet applications into customs licensing will raise Macedonia’s trade practices to international standards and ease its access to the global economy.

USAID has improved access to finance for companies and municipalities by establishing Development Credit Authority Loan Portfolio Guarantee Facilities, valued at approximately $20 million, which will not only mobilize private capital but push banks to look beyond their current clientele and create numerous public-private partnerships.

Going forward, the Mission’s economic growth strategy is two-fold – to work on the macroeconomic level to improve the overall business environment and investment policy, while assisting individual firms and agribusinesses in increasing their competitiveness and productivity. Complimenting each other, these initiatives will encourage foreign and domestic investors to come to Macedonia, which will open up new markets and create new jobs for Macedonian citizens.

Below, you will find detailed information about our projects. Please feel free to contact us directly with any questions or comments!

Joseph Lessard, Economic Growth Office Director, jlessard@usaid.gov;
Meri Cuculoska mcuculoska@usaid.gov
Tatjana Markovska tmarkovska@usaid.gov
Margareta Lipkovska Atanasov mlipkovska@usaid.gov
Vesna Stevkovska vstevkovska@usaid.gov