Düsseldorf 27th February 2014 (MIA) – Macedonia offers the most competitive conditions for doing business in the region. This was observed by several foreign companies already operating in Macedonia, and some of them decided to realize their second investment
This was pointed out last night by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski at the Business Forum in Düsseldorf, before representatives of several German companies from the car sector, infrastructure, telecommunications, tourism, banking and insurance sector.
– American companies Johnston Controls, Kemet Electronics, Johnson Metti, Vanhol, TeknoHose, Prodis, Grisko…, have already invested in our country, seeing Macedonia as the best business destination. What is very important for us is the fact that those who came here, decided to invest for the second time. If the conditions were negative, they would not have reached such decision, Prime Minister said.
He stressed that the treatment of investors in Macedonia was much better than in many other countries. If you come here, you will come across a Government that is, to a great extent, friendly oriented towards the investors and the business. We have a team, which communicates with them on daily basis, Prime Minister said, MIA reported from Düsseldorf.
By pointing out the advantages Macedonia offers as a business destination, he mentioned the macroeconomic stability, tax system, sound operation of the institutions, low costs for doing business, possibility for customs-free export to the European markets under the signed freed trade agreements, as well as the advantages offered by the technological industrial development zones.
Gruevski stressed that in the past years, a series of measures that improved the business climate, were implemented, being most significant advantages for foreign investors, being also acknowledged by relevant international institutions.
– As for the last seven World Bank Doing Business Reports, Macedonia was four times among the top 10 best reformers in the world. According to the number of total implemented reforms since 2005 until nowadays, Macedonia has been at the high third place among a competition of 189 countries in the world. From 2006 until nowadays, as for the Doing Business list, Macedonia advanced from the 94th to the 25th place, being a leap by even 69 positions. As for the Forbes Magazine’s report on the best countries for doing business, Macedonia was ranked at the 36th position, advancing by 46 positions compared to 2007, and according to the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom, it also advanced by 35 positions, i.e. from the 78th to the 43rd position, Prime Minister said.
What is an advantage for the foreign companies that will decide to invest and operate in Macedonia is the fact they will come across a skilled labour force.
– We have good, well-educated labour force with good work habits and skills, being loyal to the companies, Vice Prime Minister Stavreski pointed out.
He went on that there was good cooperation between the private sector and the universities and that the faculties may, upon request by the companies, introduce special programs for certain qualifications.
Favourable business conditions were also acknowledged by the foreign investors already operating in Macedonia.
Dirk Gürzenic from PCC DEG Renewables, a company that obtained five concessions for small hydroelectric power plants, one of them already being built, said that what was most important was that the Government listens to the needs of investors for better working conditions.
Kemet Electronic also shared its good experience from the operations in Macedonia. Andreas Meer said that they came in Macedonia in 2010, after they heard about our country on CNN.
After we decided to extend our production, we reconsidered several places in SEE, among which Macedonia as well. We came here and got all necessary information from the Government representatives, said Meer, adding that this was one of the reasons due to which they decided to invest in Macedonia, as well as the low costs for doing business.
He said that they found adequate staff, with technical education and knowledge of several foreign languages in Macedonia. As for production expansion in Macedonia, he pointed out that they will invest therein if there is business rationale for such investment.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski together with the economic team continue their business visit to Stuttgart, where new Business Forum will be held in cooperation with Financial Times.
Germany is the third largest investor in Macedonia. German companies that used the investment opportunities in Macedonia are Dräxlmaier and Kromberg and Schubert, as well as the investment of Marquardt.
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