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North Macedonia
On the way towards the EU
In former Yugoslavia, Northern Macedonia was the economically least developed among the six part republics that made up the country. In 1991, Northern Macedonia declared its independence. Germany began cooperation with Northern Macedonia in 1997. Initially KfW Development Bank helped to rebuild the dilapidated and partially destroyed infrastructure. In the meantime, the EU accession criteria have come to the fore, and there is a great need for catching up, especially in the environmental sector. KfW Development Bank is primarily active in the energy sector (energy efficiency and renewable energies), in municipal infrastructure (water supply, sanitation and district heating) and in sustainable economic development (promotion of MSMEs, municipal credit lines).
Northern Macedonia has set itself the goal of expanding modern irrigation systems to irrigate an additional 250,000 ha in the next 15-20 years. KfW Development Bank has been supporting this commitment since 2001. The aim is to sustainably increase agricultural production by improving the availability of water resources and using them more efficiently, thereby helping to improve the living conditions of the rural population, fostering employment and enhancing the resilience of agriculture to climate change. For Northern Macedonia, the improvements in agriculture also mark important milestones in the process of rapprochement with the European Union.
The focus of the activities is on the Vardar river basin. KfW's commitment comprises one completed project, one ongoing project and other projects in preparation.
North Macedonia's energy supply depends on hydropower, which means that few emissions are produced. However, many hydropower plants are outdated and are in need of modernisation. One of the goals set by the government of North Macedonia is to further expand and diversify the use of renewable energy sources. On behalf of the German Federal Government, KfW Development Bank is supporting Macedonia in a pilot project to construct the first wind farm in Macedonia. Six hydropower plants have been modernised to significantly increase capacity and energy efficiency.
Project information - wind power (PDF, 130 KB, non-accessible)
North Macedonia's infrastructure was neglected for many years, which led to shortages in the supply of clean drinking water. Sewage disposal does not meet environmental standards: it is often drained directly into rivers and lakes. Most municipal utility companies do not operate profitably and are not able to raise funding for the necessary investments. KfW Development Bank is helping North Macedonia modernise its water and sewage systems.
Further information
Local office
KfW Office Skopje
Director KfW Office: René Eschemann
Antonie Grubisik 5
1000 Skopje
Macedonia
Phone: +38 923 10 92 41
Fax: +38 923 21 24 66