Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi confirmed that a major source of revenue in 2021 should be the sale of publicly owned companies or shares the state holds in largely private companies. Faced with an enormous deficit and a declining economy, the Zaev regime announced attempts to sell off even strategic companies such as the railways and the post office, as well as the state share in the Macedonian Telekom, the OHIS chemical plant that sits on potentially valuable land and many others.

These companies are being offered on sale, or as public-private partnerships. They are now a burden on the budget, which leaves less funds for development. This also fits with the European Commissioner Varhelyi’s plan for 9 billion EUR in investments in the Western Balkans, Besimi told the Parliament while presenting the 2021 budget.