Announcement of new IPARD 2 Call, 16.6m euro for investment in micro and small enterprises
The Agency for Financial Support of the Agriculture and Rural Development has announced the Public Call for Measure 7 "Farm Diversification and Business Development" under the IPARD 2 Program. The total available fund for implementation of investments under this measure is EUR 16.6 million. The interested applicants may submit their applications no later than November 18, 2019. This measure supports investments in modernizing the existing or opening new plants for production of pasta, beverages, pastries, bakery products, rabbit farms, game farms, wood and timber plants, aquaculture farms for sweet water fish, accommodation facilities as well as opening restaurants offering catering services. Under the program, up to 65% of the eligible costs for the investment will be reimbursed to the applicants through the IPARD 2 Program funds.
"The efficient use of this measure will contribute to new jobs in the rural areas, which will reduce the rural depopulation, improve the quality of life in rural areas and increase the economic activity. Through this Measure "Farm Diversification and Business Development”, we are developing the most powerful part of the economy, which is the small and medium enterprises that are the strength of the domestic economy" - emphasized the Minister of Agriculture Dimkovski.
Dimkovski and Babovski emphasized that all interested beneficiaries of the IPARD 2 Program of this Public Call should have gathered all documents listed in the Guideline for Beneficiaries when submitting the application for financial support. The financial support will be authorized for all fully complete and eligible applications for allocation of funds under Measure 7 "Farm Diversification and Business Development" based on the administrative and on-the-spot controls. Babovski noted that there is growing interest in using IPARD 2 funds under all measures.
"Under the first Call from the IPARD 2 for the measures 1, 3 and 7 have been signed 947 contracts, 644 applicants have completed their investments and the Agency has reimbursed EUR 8.1 million fresh capital to the agro-sector. Currently, under processing are the applications for Measures 1 and 3 from the second and third IPARD 2 Call. Until present, under the both measures have been signed 45 contracts with a total value of EUR 3.6 million. In the following year, is expected signing of the contracts with all eligible applicants under IPARD 2. By the end of this year, a total of EUR 11.6 million is expected to be paid for all fully implemented and paid projects. - said the Director of AFSARD, Mr. Nikolche Babovski.
In the following period, MAFWE together with the Paying Agency through all measures and policies will create a favourable business climate for growth and development of the domestic economy, and one of the methods for such achievement is the efficient usage of the IPARD program measures.