Chinese Government provides RMB 32 million grant for Rajko Zinzifov Primary School and Sports Hall Construction Project

Project narrative

In November 2011, the Chinese Government and the Government of Macedonia signed letters of cooperation, committing RMB 32 million (EUR 3.9 million) of grant funding for the Rajko Zinzifov Primary School Construction Project. The purpose of this project was to construct the Rajko Zinzifov Primary School (School ОУ Рајко Жинзифов) — capable of accommodating 800 students — as well as a sports hall in the Dracevo settlement within the municipality of Kisela Voda. The school has 35 classrooms and it is equipped with modern equipment and a library. It also has a football field, basketball court, athletics track. The project was designed by a Chinese state-owned company called China IPPR International Engineering Co., Ltd. (IPPR). However, it was implemented by two Macedonian companies called B.A.R. ECE and LINKIA. A foundation stone laying ceremony took place on November 11, 2012 and the originally expected completion date of the project was November 1, 2013. However, the school did not officially open its doors until September 1, 2014. The other part of the project is the construction new gymnasium and teaching building was built with Chinese funding in 2019. A handover ceremony was held on June 21st, 2019 for the renovation. The new gymnasium has an area of 588m2 and consists of a multi-purpose hall - for volleyball, basketball, handball, gymnastics and auxiliary rooms: wardrobe, sanitary facilities with showers, a trainer's room together with a sanitary section and a storage area for props.