The banking sector should give bigger support to private companies, banks are stable and strong and there is no reason for credit activity not to be rehabilitated, and especially this refers to support by several largest banks in the country, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski said Thursday at FINEXPO 2013.

The growth of loans by 4% to 5% is maybe not sufficient but is not bad in this phase; however one of the problems is that the largest banks have lower growth than this one, and the growth is mainly generated by the mid-sized banks in Macedonia. Policies in these largest banks should be examined in order to contribute for private sector growth, Stavreski said.

The economic growth should be balanced with bigger participation of the private sector on medium and long term goals, Stavreski said.
The economic growth in conditions of crisis in Europe just as it is i.e. is based on global investments and export from companies working in the zones but on long-term goal it is necessary banks to give larger support to the private sector, he said.

The banking sector this year moves good, has enough liquidity both for support of projects of the companies and for purchasing bonds and treasury bills, Gjorgji Jancevski, President of the Banking Association within Macedonian Economic Chamber said.

Crediting to companies is not harmful because there is money for two sides. The state has €1 billion in bonds and treasury bills of which €582 million belong to the banks, he said. This will not hinder the crediting of companies because sufficient liquidity exists, he said. Jancevski expects credit activity of the banks to strengthen next year.