We do not see the funds on favorable terms that were provided by the Hungarian Export-Import Bank as an expense for the budget, but as an investment, because supporting domestic companies is an investment in economic growth, Macedonian Finance Minister GordanaDimitrieska-Kochoska said in a social media Saturday.
“Over two years ago, we recognized the need for the development of companies that have ideas and potential for investments, but for their realization they needed more accessible and favorable financing. Therefore, together with the business sector and banks, we created and defined a model with which 250 million euros were made available for development investments in the domestic private sector, on the most favorable terms and with easy access to reach the end users,” the minister noted.
She adds that the first tranche to domestic companies was disbursed in March last year and that a total of EUR 239 million have been injected into the Macedonian economy to date, an amount that has stimulated a significant investment cycle in the private sector and contributed to greater production, new employment and greater competitiveness of domestic companies.
According to Dimitrieska-Kochoska, the most important question now is not only how much money has been invested, but what happens to economic activity as a result of this access to capital and increased investments.
The FinMin adds that the indicators are encouraging. Corporate lending in this period in which this measure is being implemented has recorded an average annual growth of 15%, i.e. in the period from March last year to June this year it has ranged between 13.5% and 16.5%, which shows increased lending activity and better access of companies to financial resources. GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026 was 3.1%, following growth of 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025, 3.8% in the third and 3.8% in the second quarter. One of the significant contributions to growth is public and private investment. Positive and encouraging signals, the announcement states, are also seen in exports, industrial production and employment.
