Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupco Dimovski, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Abdilaqim Ademi and Switzerland's Ambassador to Macedonia Stefano Lazzarotto signed Thursday a bilateral agreement on allocation of financial assistance within project "Bregalnica River Basin Management Plan".

The project, worth CHF 5,27 million (EUR 4,31 million), will help the Macedonian Government in the implementation of the new Law on Waters, but also support municipalities geographically tied or part of Bregalnica river basin in implementing small infrastructure water projects. Its direct beneficiaries will be 12 local self-government units, as well as the agriculture and environment ministries.

"The project will establish an appropriate management framework in line with the new EU-harmonized law. Improvement of water management will contribute to stable economic conditions", said Environment Minister Ademi after the agreement's signing.

According to Agriculture Minister Dimovski, the Bregalnica river basin is one of the most complex in Macedonia from all management aspects.

"The foundation for the agriculture's progress is the irrigation infrastructure. Besides dams and reservoirs, the Bregalnica system also includes the 140km-long main channels and distribution network of 1,050km", said Dimovski.

He added that the project should also help the construction of a section of the water cleansing infrastructure, as well as assist the realization of big cleansing facilities in the region.

The project, implemented in the next 3,5 years, has two main components: institutional development, i.e. establishment and successful operations of the body for management of Bregalnica river basin, as well as planning and implementation of small infrastructure water projects. The Swiss grant amounts to CHF 4,46 million (EUR 3,65 million), along with CHF 810,000 (EUR 662,000) co-financed by the Macedonian Government.