Package comprising 24 measures targeting the areas such as tax policy, crediting, land policy, property and legal affairs, agriculture, civil engineering, social policy, as well as measures in the field of regulatory guillotine are part of the fourth anti-crisis measures the Government adopted at its session yesterday.
 
– New package of measures is a result of a serious and continuous dialogue between government institutions and the business sector, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said at today’s press conference at the Government, presenting the new package of anti-crisis measures.
 
He pointed out that new anti-crisis measures would not bring about spectacular results since, as he said, major and most important measures were already undertaken in 2009, and they have provided, to a large extent, and are still providing support to the companies.
 
– This package went in parallel with the measures included in the third stage of regulatory guillotine and the measures for improvement of business climate, Prime Minister Gruevski said.
 
President of Macedonian Government explained that new anti-crisis measures would lead to amendments to the VAT Law, according to which companies can pay their VAT liabilities on 25th in the month, rather then on 15th in the month.
 
– Fee for privatization of construction land at legal entities wanting to privatize the land on which their facilities and yards are built will be reduced by 30 percent. Law on Denationalization will also be amended, according to which administrative procedure will be finalized with a decision reached by second-instance commission, and requirements for usage of EIB credit line and Macedonian Bank for Development Promotion will improve. In addition, new credit line will be introduced aimed at supporting micro-, small- and medium-sized companies, Prime Minister Gruevski said.
 
He also added that import of products the production of which does not comply with certain international standards, accepted in Macedonia, will be prevented in order to protect domestic producers and consumers from unfair competition, thus alleviating the criteria for obtaining financial support.
 
– Fund on Agricultural Land will be established, intended to be awarded to unemployed persons from rural areas and many procedures in the field of construction will be also shortened and accelerated, Gruevski said.
 
Prime Minister Gruevski pointed out that new anti-crisis measures will have not only short-term positive effects on the stimulation of growth and development in the country but they will also both improve the quality of life of all citizens and increase the competitiveness of Macedonian economy.
 
Prime Minister underlined that, last year, Government adopted three packages of anti-crisis measures and many other measures contributing to improvement of the situation, as well as measures for reducing costs of companies and facilitating their import. As a result of these measures, as he said, worth over EUR 300 million, our country is one of those European countries, coping more successfully with the crisis.
 
– In 2009, we showed the third best economic performance in Europe as regards Gross Domestic Product. Last year, Macedonia realized the second-lowest budget deficit in Europe, showing that the Government spent much less compared to the Budget revenues realized. Challenges of global economic crisis still exist and we are obliged to continue with the enhancement of the business climate so as to both exit the crisis and meet 2010 projected growth, Gruevski said.(MIA)
