Macedonia got the initial funds in amount of 52 million euros intended for road construction and reconstruction in Macedonia as part of the $400-million Partnership Strategy with the World Bank.

WB’s Country Manager for Macedonia Tatiana Proskuryakova, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and the director of the state roads public enterprise Ljupco Georgievski signed Tuesday an agreement to use the World Bank’s funds intended for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in Macedonia.

The construction of the roads Boskov Most-Debar, Resen-Bukovo and Bitola-Makazi will be financed with these funds, they explained.

Additionally from the World Bank, 100 million euros are set to be approved next year as part of the Partnership Strategy to construct and overhaul several roads in the country, including Probistip-Ski Centar Ponikva, Toranica-Sasa, Staro Konjarevo-Novo Konjarevo, Garski Most-Izvor and Rankovci-Kriva Palanka.

“The project of over 150 million euros for road construction and reconstruction in the country is incorporated in a more serious investment cycle involving the construction of highways and regional roads estimated at 1.3 billion euros, which also includes highways, regional and local roads being invested from various sources,” said Deputy PM Stavreski.

By constructing the planned roads, he added, the competitiveness of Macedonia’s economy and the flow of goods and passengers will be improved significantly. “Moreover, road safety will be increased because the project covers all the detected landslides and road blackspots,” Stavreski stated.

According to Proskuryakova, this is the second project for road transportation in Macedonia financed by the World Bank and is a loan for long-term investing.

“The loan enables road network to be improved, which is necessary for a better growth. Improved road network means better connectivity, safer travelling, which additionally can contribute to better access to jobs, social services for the population and helps in reducing poverty rate and increasing joint prosperity,” noted Proskuryakova.

Today’s agreement wraps up the financial construction for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of several roads in Macedonia. Construction works are expected to be launched in 2015.