The Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov in Skopje together with Armen Gregorian, UNDP permanent representative in the country, Ramiz Redzepi, director of the Bureau of Regional Development and the grantees - mayors of municipalities and directors of regional development centers signed the agreements for financing technical documentation priorities for infrastructure projects within the framework of the First Call organized as part of the Technical Documentation Fund.
The grants are provided by the Project "Building Municipal Capacity for Project Implementation - Phase 2" funded by Sweden and the Regional Development Bureau. The Minister of Local Self-Government thanked the Swedish Development Agency and UNDP for their support, and congratulated the first 10 municipalities and the three development centers of the planning regions for the opportunity.
The Ministry of Local Self-Government and the Regional Development Bureau are the two central institutions that have the responsibility to support the development of municipalities and planning regions. Minister Penov emphasized that after signing the contracts, the biggest challenge is to strengthen the capacities for the preparation of quality projects that are financed from the state budget, but also projects that will meet all the standards for financing from other sources such as the European Union or the World Bank.
"Access to quality funds is conditioned by the capacity of the municipalities and the Development Centers for the preparation of project and technical documentation, based on prescribed standards. With 1.5 million dollars, the Fund for Technical Documentation in this phase provides capacity building through direct expert support, but also financial resources for the preparation of technical documentation, which is of great help to both the municipalities and the Development Centers," said the Minister of Local Government.
In the process of integration into the European Union, the Ministry of Local Self-Government and the Bureau for Regional Development, above all, have the responsibility to create conditions for quality participation of municipalities and planning regions in the use of IPA funds for regional development.
"This is how we show our readiness for membership in the European Union, through the use of financial instruments to raise the standards and quality of life and reduce development differences within the state and with the member states of the Union." Within the framework of this project, through the three planned calls, all municipalities and Centers for the Development of Planning Regions have the chance," added Minister Penov.