Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Zoran Stavreski believes that this year was a good start for the Republic of Macedonia as regards foreign investments.
 
– Foreign investments in the amount of EUR 52 million were realized in the first month. 2010 was quite successful in that respect, taking into account the total foreign investments in the amount of EUR 222 million, being by 50% morethan in 2009. Thus, in a crisis year, when the world was still feeling the consequences from the global financial crisis, foreign investments were doubled than the average investments realized in the period 2003 – 2005, Stavreski said at the official opening of the new facility for veterinary and phytosanitary inspection at Tabanovce border crossing.
 
Our ambitions aim higher, he said, and I expect, by restoring the confidence of the investors in the post-crisis period, to get back to the level of foreign investments as before the crisis – of around EUR 400 – EUR 500 million on annual basis.
 
– “Most of the investments are a result of the Government’s measure for zero percent profit tax for companies that have already invested foreign capital in Macedonia. They have re-invested the profit ,speaking in favour of a good measure, applied by investors to multiply such funds and return them back in the Macedonian economy, Stavreski pointed out.
 
When asked about the requests of construction companies, he said that the Government receives requests by businessmen on continuous basis and that they have undertaken many measures and activities in the favour of the construction sector so far.
 
– In the past two years during the crisis, we have undertaken many measures and activities to assist the construction sector by increasing public investments in capital projects, Stavreski said, adding that the Government also previously reduced VAT on sales of flats to 5%.
 
According to him, these are good measures contributing for the construction to obtain strong support. Government, he pointed out, remains also open for all other requests by the chambers of commerce and such requests will be considered according to the Budget projections and possibilities.
 
– Against such background, we have set of measures, showing that the Government was quite active and engaged in the process of fight against inflation, as well as in finding ways to mitigate the price shocks from the oil price increase, Stavreski said, adding that he expects for the measures to help overcoming such shocks.
 
He underlined that given all contracts with the businessmen, they are satisfied with the measures the Government implements, such as reduction of both excise duties and price for construction land privatization.
 
– Businessmen are very satisfied with these measures and like in the past two years as regards this process, we constantly meet and discuss new ways as for how the Government can boost the economy, as well as how the overall banking system should be engaged through credit activity for economy support.(MIA)
