PRISTINA (Kosovo), March 30 (SeeNews) – Kosovo’s finance minister Besnik Bislimi said the government has prepared a 170.6 million euro ($190 million) emergency relief package to support the coronavirus-affected sectors of the economy, boost health expenditures and assist socially vulnerable people.
The emergency measures will be soon followed by an additional fiscal and monetary stimulus package for the economy with a medium-term horizon, Bislimi said in a press release late on Friday.
The government has decided to allocate 61 million euro to covering part of the expenses of businesses that have suffered losses as a result of restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus, including payment of salaries and social contributions for employees, as well as payment of up to 50% of rent expenses for two months, Bislimi explained.
Under the package, 20 million euro will be used to provide temporary liquidity for companies that have experienced a decline in regular income, 15 million euro will cover the cost of additional liquidity-boosting loans for small businesses and self-employed, while 15 million euro will be used to support medical staff, police and firefighters with additional payment for two months.
Bislimi also said the government has decided to provide monthly financial assistance to pensioners for three months amounting to a total of 13 million, additional payment to all employees of grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies for two months (3 million euro) as well as three months of additional payment to over 98,000 citizens covered by existing economic aid schemes (7.6 million euro).
The emergency package also includes 10 million euro in support of exporters, 10 million euro for the affected municipalities, 5 million euro in grants for agriculture, 5 million euro in subsidies to sports and cultural associations, 4 million euro to provide monthly assistance for three months for all workers who lose their jobs during this period as well as 2 million euro for initiatives and projects to improve the conditions of minorities.
Earlier last week, Kosovo chamber of commerce urged the country’s government to prepare an emergency package worth at least 300 million euro to support private companies suffering from the measures taken to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Kosovo confirmed three new cases of the coronavirus disease on Sunday, bringing the total number to 94, public broadcaster reported, citing data by the national institute of public health.
($ = 0.89738 euro)