Skopje, 4th March 2014 (MIA) – Construction sector experienced 33% growth last year and it played an important role in the growth of the economy as a whole. This year’s Budget envisages EUR 365 million for realization of infrastructure projects.
This was pointed out by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Zoran Stavreski, announcing the 11th International Fair of Construction, Building Materials and Construction Mechanization open.
He underlined that growth was not unexpected, it was boosted by series of measures and activities undertaken by both the private sector and the Government, aimed at supporting the construction activity. He expressed belief that the construction sector, with the strong support extended by the Government, would continue showing good results in the coming period as well.
– Funds allocated in 2014 will be used for building roads, schools, sports facilities and everything that can engage the Macedonian construction companies and include the Macedonian workers or can contribute to better performance of the companies, Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that large number of Macedonia companies were included in the realization of the capital projects funded under the Budget, as well as that most of them used the possibilities to build buildings, individual houses or business facilities.
Stavreski believes that other measures aimed at improving the business climate are also important, including the simplified procedure for issuance of building permits, sale of construction land at the price of EUR 1 per square meter, as well as the “Buy a House, Buy a Flat” Project.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, private companies play the main role in the construction sector.
This year’s Fair is attended by 300 companies from Macedonia, the region and broader, as well as by number of investors within the RealExpo, and around 15,000 visitors are expected.
Construction sector is expected to continue growing this year. At the same time, greater demand for building materials is expected, price might change, however, insignificantly, pointing out the price of flats is at the optimal level. Construction companies pointed out that they built high-quality buildings.
Vanco Cifliganec, ADORA Engineering Director General, said that they built 250 flats a year and that all flats were sold when it was a matter of high-quality buildings. This year, as he pointed out, the company has sold by 10% more flats compared to the previous months.
– There is slight decline in the price and I think such price cannot be undercut. EUR 900 to EUR 1,200 per square meter in Skopje is normal price taking into account the conditions in Macedonia, Cifliganec said.
Velimir Petrovski from Knauf Radika underlined that 20% growth was expected this year on the basis of expansion of the sales programme.
– Prices are stable, although we are under pressure
by the increase of the prices of energy sources and intermediate goods that are imported. Energy sources are a significant item in the production and, therefore, we believe that gasification will help the industrial production, Petrevski said.
Construction Fair, which means versatile promotion of this economic activity of the producers and the traders from Macedonia and abroad, offers products and services for working, modernization, maintenance and equipping of facilities and properties. New materials, which provide for energy saving, will be emphasized. The Fair is expected to attract the attention of the experts in the field of construction industry and to provide for meetings, discussions and concluding deals.
At the Real Estate Exhibition, on the other hand, many domestic and one foreign company will offer more than 3,000 flats in Skopje, Ohrid and Strumica, new facilities will be promoted, as well as the favourable conditions for buying flats through credits from the commercial banks.
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