The 7th International Fair for Finance, Business Opportunities and Economic Development “FINEKSPO 2009” opened Wednesday at the Skopje fair and it will last by 11th December.
 
Fair includes 23 banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions to present their products and services in the next three days. Fair also provides the opportunity for exchange of information, ideas and experience particularly in conditions of the current global economic crisis. The fair, will host a number of discussion forums, debates and roundtables. In addition to FINEKSPO, Skopje fair will also host IMFOKOM, at which IT companies will present themselves.
 
Fair was officially opened by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Zoran Stavreski, saying that one year after the global crisis emerged, banking sector in Macedonia remained stable, successfully overcoming the crisis.
 
– No bank faced a situation where it was not able to provide services to the savers or to destabilize the system, Stavreski said, adding that banking system stability was supported by high level of macroeconomic stability and safety of deposit savings.
 
However, he pointed out that serious challenges lied ahead. Foundations for sustainable economic growth are still fragile, where financial sector still requires careful supervision. Government and other competent institutions have to remain active in creating institutional conditions so as for the process of saving the economy to be transformed into its recovery and later into more dynamic economic growth, Minister of Finance pointed out.
 
Financial system policy, as the Minister said, would be aimed at maintaining stability and creating more efficient and more competitive financial system to be focused on the economic growth of the country.
 
– Looking ahead, the economic growth would undoubtedly require even more robust reform of the financial sector, Stavreski said, adding that the financial system should actively follow and support recovery of the economy and it has to be even more efficient, stronger and more resistant to possible future crises.
 
According to Guido Omladik, President of the Skopje Fair Management Board in crisis situation, the companies should continue implementing their projects rather than being overwhelmed by pessimism.(MIA)
 
9th December 2009 FINEKSPO (photos from the event).
