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  WORLD BANK APPROVES MACEDONIA EUR 15 MILLION LOAN FOR AGRICULTURE STRENGTHENING

The World Bank approved a EUR 15 million loan for the Agriculture Strengthening and Accession Project for the Republic of Macedonia.
The Project will improve the delivery of Government assistance to the agriculture sector in a manner consistent with the European Union’s pre-accession requirements, reads the press release by Skopje-based World Bank Office.
The project’s development objective is to improve the delivery of government assistance to the agriculture sector by improving the ability of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE) to disburse and track the use of rural development funds and evaluate their impact on the agri-food sector; paying EU IPARD funds paid to farmers in an EU compliant manner; delivering improved veterinary services to producers and agro-processors in a timely manner; establishing participatory, “demand driven” irrigation management; and divesting the state of financial responsibility for the irrigation sector.
- The project will help the Republic of Macedonia better use its agricultural potential and move the sector closer to the European Union, says Julian Lampietti, head of the World Bank team designing the project.
It complements the country’s development strategy and the European Commission’s program and will assist the Government in creating better and more effective linkages with agricultural producers, reads the press release.
The first component of the project will strengthen MAFWE’s administrative and management capacity in accordance with EU accession requirements. It will improve MAFWE’s management, administration, information technology, staffing and institutional structure by establishing or upgrading the capacity needed for an efficient design, implementation, management, monitoring, control and evaluation of national agriculture policy, and in accordance with EU accession requirements.
The second component will support MAFWE’s ability to deliver EU rural development funds. This component will help establish the Paying Agency that would acquire accreditation to administer IPARD funds on behalf of the EU before accession, and CAP funds after accession; and improve the capacity of potential beneficiaries to make successful applications for IPARD grants.
The third component will help develop effective veterinary capacity as part of the creation of a functioning integrated food quality system, which is consistent with EU requirements. This will promote safer products of animal origin, and prevention and decrease of animal diseases; help producers meet cross-compliance requirements to receive IPARD funds; and enable Macedonian producers and agricultural processors to export their products to the more stable and higher value market of the EU.
The fourth component will complete the reform of the irrigation sector that started in 2003 under the Irrigation Rehabilitation and Restructuring Project, whereby water users govern irrigation systems.
The loan has a five-year grace period and 17 years maturity.

MACEDONIANS AND BULGARIANS BUY CHEAPEST FOOD, BEVERAGES IN EUROPE

Macedonian and Bulgarian citizens buy cheapest beverages and food, opposite the Croatian citizens who buy the most expensive in the region, according to the data by the Bulgarian National Statistical institute, published Wednesday in Croatian media.
The beverage and food prices in Macedonia and Bulgaria are twice cheaper than the European Union's average in 2006. In these countries, the 2006 price level indices was 56 points of the EU average with 100 points. Denmark - with 142 points - is most expensive in EU.
The EU candidate countries Croatia (89) and Turkey (84) have price level indices similar to the EU average. The Slovenian price index is 86, Montenegro - 74, Serbia - 67 and Bosnia & Herzegovina - 71.
Price level indices are calculated as the ratio between Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) and exchange rates for each country, in relation to the EU average.		  
     
     
     
 

 

  
     
     
     
 

 

  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 NEWS

  MILCO MANCEVSKI IS MACEDONIAN HONORARY AMBASSADOR OF CULTURE

Film director Milco Mancevski, who won the Golden Lion Award at the renowned Venice Film Festival in 1994, thus putting Macedonia on the cultural map of the world with his debut feature "Before the Rain", was awarded Wednesday with the title Honorary Ambassador of Culture by the Macedonian Government for his contribution in affirming the Macedonian culture in the world.
The title, being awarded first time ever, was presented by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Mancevski will be a honorary ambassador in New York, where he currently resides and works. For the additional promotion of the Macedonian culture, the Government submitted a motion on supplementing the Law on Culture, hence introducing the honorary title - ambassador of culture.
The initiative aims to present the best artistic achievements of Macedonian artists. The title will be awarded to most eminent artists, who are recognised in the country and abroad. The culture ambassador will have no diplomatic status, whilst their engagement will be purely voluntary. The title will be awarded to several other artists to other countries by the end of September.
Milco Mancevski told reporters that the title is an official recognition of his correspondent work from New York, dating back to the 1970s. - I'm planning several film projects, stated Mancevski, adding that his third feature "Shadows" will be finalised in two months time. Following his recent film, he plans on preparing a TV movie.
- The film will deal the period between the Neolithic and Christianity in Macedonia, which will make the name and country Macedonia a brand, said Mancevski.
His debut "Before the Rain" spread the name of Macedonia around the globe. The Oscar-nominated film has won over 30 prestigious awards. After his international breakthrough, followed his second film "Dust", which raised a lot of controversies and issues. It was the first and only Macedonian film that opened the Venice Film Festival. Both of his films are analysed at many world film academies.
The shooting of his latest film "Shadow" began in June 2006. It is a Macedonian, Italian, Spanish and German co-production and is supported by the European Co-production Film Fund "Euroimage".