The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) are satisfied from the way in which Macedonia is coping with the economic crisis and are prepared to financially support the country's economic policies with EUR 250 million, Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and National Bank Governor Dimitar Bogov were told by institutions' top officials within the IMF/WB Annual Meetings in Tokyo.

"I am satisfied with IMF/WB's general assessment that Macedonia is coping well with the European crisis effects, better than other regional countries. They emphasized the fact that we are maintaining a low level of budget deficit and state debt, which represent Europe's biggest problems", said Minister of Finance, Stavreski.

The World Bank will support Macedonian economy through a couple of crucial projects worth EUR 250 million at the onset of next year. Meeting with World Bank Vice President Philippe Le Houerou referred to the provision of direct budget support in the amount of US$ 50 million by the year-end, as well as the Bank's guarantee for funds that Macedonia is to obtain from commercial banks at the capital market in the amount of EUR 200 million at the start of 2013.

"As a result of the sound economic policies, the World Bank supports us with this guarantee, which will lower the interest rate for these funds. Besides these EUR 250 million, there will be other investment projects in the energy sector and other fields", stressed Stavreski.

Funds will be allocated for budget purposes and improvement of the economy's liquidity.

"The funds will be used in next year's budget, towards meeting all needs. I believe the regular budget revenues and this additional capital will be sufficient for the challenges ahead", said Stavreski.

He added the Government has been working according to the recipe put forward today by IMF chief Christine Lagarde.

"We are making efforts to secure sufficient amount of capital investments in every budget. The one for next year will have a higher degree of capital investments, including funds for large infrastructure projects, such as Corridor 10, Corridor 8 railroad, gasification, regional roads etc", underlined the Minister of Finance Stavreski.