Wirtschaft Mazedoniens - Економија на Македонија - Economy of Macedonia (Rep. of)

[Zoran]

Public call for OHIS sale announced

Skopje, 30 March 2012 (MIA) - The Ministry of Economy announced Friday a public call for the sale of 76.575 percent of organic-chemical industry "Naum Naumovski-Borce" Skopje (OHIS).

One of the criteria for the bidders is for their individual or consolidated revenues in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to exceed EUR 2 million for each year.

Bids are to be submitted by May 30. For more details, one can turn to the Ministry of Economy website ???????????? ?? e???????? ?? ????????? ??????????.

When selecting the most favorable bidder, most points are given for the company's solvency, investments in first five years, number of new jobs in first three years, as well as offered price per share.

Minister Valon Saraqini recently said two Bulgarian and one domestic company have shown interest for the loss-making company. In order to make the plant more attractive for investors, the Government has turned on several occasions OHIS's debts to the state into shares.

 

[VelikaPlanina]

in Deutschland gibt es kaum Banken, welche für diese Regionen Gelder locker machen?
Gründe: zu kleiner Binnenmarkt und Probleme mit Serbien + den umliegenden Nachbarländern.

Visaarten: ( der war gut )
- Einreisevisum
- Business Visum
- Beschäftigungsvisum

die sollten lieber ein Ausreise-Visa homologieren ( oder zumindest preisgünstiger machen; die Herren Botschafter, oder gibt es bereits eine Novellierung? )

 

[Zoran]

Carlos Slim's visit puts Macedonia on map of attractive destinations for investing
http://www.mia.com.mk/default.aspx?vId=92676426&lId=2
Skopje, 1 April 2012 (MIA) - A visit of Carlos Slim, the richest businessman in the world, to Macedonia once again puts the country on the map of attractive destinations for investments, Vice-Premier and FinMin Zoran Stavreski told reporters Sunday after a meeting of the Mexican telecommunications magnate with the Government's economic team, led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

Slim's praising of the Government's economic policy, results for the last few years, including the Doing Business ranking of Macedonia as one of the best reformers for six years in row and its most attractive tax package in Europe, gives an impetus to our Cabinet, Stavreski said.

"For the first time in the last 20 years the richest businessman in the world has been visiting Macedonia. It is yet another proof that our activities in the economic sphere - improving of the business climate for both domestic and foreign investors - have not passed unnoticed. On the contrary, the most powerful international investors and businessmen frequently visit Macedonia, thus contributing to spreading the story about the country as a solid destination for investments," Stavreski said.

Today's meeting also addressed potential projects the Government was offering to foreign investors in the spheres of energy, real estate, mining and infrastructure.

Slim commended Macedonia's business climate, tax policy, Stavreski said. He considers that Macedonia may expect larger inflow of investments thanking to its economic polices, Stavreski added.

He said that Slim expressed greatest interest in several projects related to mining, energy and privatization of state companies.

Slim, whose wealth is estimated at US$69 billion according to Forbes magazine, is going to attend an IT conference in Ohrid on Monday. The Mexican businessman is expected to chair a meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which has been formed by the International Telecommunication Union and UNESCO.

The Ohrid event will be also attended by a top government delegation, led by PM Gruevski, who is scheduled to deliver an address at the conference.

The Commission will be convened for the first time outside the UN offices in Geneva, Paris or New York. The meeting will also include co-chair, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, as well as commission members, including CEOs of world's largest IT companies such as Intel, Ericsson, Telefonica, Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei Technologies etc.

US magazine "Forbes" has declared Mexican businessman of Lebanese descent Carlos Slim the richest man in the world for three years in a row. He is the chairman and chief executive of telecommunications companies Telmex and America Movil and has extensive holdings in other Mexican companies through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso SAB, as well as business interests elsewhere in the world.

 

[Zoran]

Carlos Slim's visit puts Macedonia on map of attractive destinations for investing
MIA - Macedonian Information Agency - Carlos Slim's visit puts Macedonia on map of attractive destinations for investing -

Skopje, 1 April 2012 (MIA) - A visit of Carlos Slim, the richest businessman in the world, to Macedonia once again puts the country on the map of attractive destinations for investments, Vice-Premier and FinMin Zoran Stavreski told reporters Sunday after a meeting of the Mexican telecommunications magnate with the Government's economic team, led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

Slim's praising of the Government's economic policy, results for the last few years, including the Doing Business ranking of Macedonia as one of the best reformers for six years in row and its most attractive tax package in Europe, gives an impetus to our Cabinet, Stavreski said.

"For the first time in the last 20 years the richest businessman in the world has been visiting Macedonia. It is yet another proof that our activities in the economic sphere - improving of the business climate for both domestic and foreign investors - have not passed unnoticed. On the contrary, the most powerful international investors and businessmen frequently visit Macedonia, thus contributing to spreading the story about the country as a solid destination for investments," Stavreski said.

Today's meeting also addressed potential projects the Government was offering to foreign investors in the spheres of energy, real estate, mining and infrastructure.

Slim commended Macedonia's business climate, tax policy, Stavreski said. He considers that Macedonia may expect larger inflow of investments thanking to its economic polices, Stavreski added.

He said that Slim expressed greatest interest in several projects related to mining, energy and privatization of state companies.

Slim, whose wealth is estimated at US$69 billion according to Forbes magazine, is going to attend an IT conference in Ohrid on Monday. The Mexican businessman is expected to chair a meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which has been formed by the International Telecommunication Union and UNESCO.

The Ohrid event will be also attended by a top government delegation, led by PM Gruevski, who is scheduled to deliver an address at the conference.

The Commission will be convened for the first time outside the UN offices in Geneva, Paris or New York. The meeting will also include co-chair, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, as well as commission members, including CEOs of world's largest IT companies such as Intel, Ericsson, Telefonica, Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei Technologies etc.

US magazine "Forbes" has declared Mexican businessman of Lebanese descent Carlos Slim the richest man in the world for three years in a row. He is the chairman and chief executive of telecommunications companies Telmex and America Movil and has extensive holdings in other Mexican companies through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso SAB, as well as business interests elsewhere in the world.

Macedonia's investment opportunities presented in London

30.03.2012
http://vlada.mk/node/2580
Investment opportunities in Macedonia were presented Friday in London before nearly 100 UK companies from the automotive, electronics, machine engineering and chemical industry and tourism firms.

Macedonia's business climate and favorable conditions and advantages for investing in Macedonia were presented at a British-Macedonian Business Forum by the minister in charge of foreign investments, Vele Samak and the director of the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion, Visar Fida.

After the forum, the Macedonian delegation held talks with several potential investors.

The government launched country's economic presentation early this week in Germany, where a delegation led by Vice PM for economic affairs Vladimir Pesevski together with minister Samak and director Fida presented Macedonia's business benefits before over 200 German and Japanese businessmen.

 

[Zoran]

India Investors Look To Balkans For Opportunity
India Investors Look To Balkans For Opportunity

India wants to be an important economic player in the Balkans, and Macedonia hopes to serve as the gatekeeper for the country’s investors — opening the doors to the region, and providing access to European markets.

Selling itself as a key player to open the 650 million-consumer European market, the country’s macro-economic stability and low tax regime “present a vital opportunity to explore huge business possibilities,” Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said on the sidelines of the Emerging Investment and Trade Opportunities in Macedonia conference earlier this month.

“Macedonia seeks to open the Balkan and European market for India. The government’s visits to India and other Asian countries shows its plan for the country to become a regional investment hub,” former Macedonian Finance Minister Zoran Vitanov told SETimes.

“The opportunities are two-way and are tremendous — Indian investments will reduce unemployment and allow greater GDP growth. Increasing the presence of Macedonian — and regional — companies on the Indian markets should not be forgotten,” he said.

“We can be a part of [the investment]. We plan to visit Macedonia soon and see up close the opportunities it offers and establish closer business ties. Our relations with Macedonia are old; the time has come to go to Macedonia now,” Subrathi Roy of the Sahara Group company said.

India has 54% of the world’s population under the age of 25, most highly educated, particularly in the field of software engineering. Indians’ purchasing power is growing 12% annually based on competition and profits.

“By investing in the Balkans, India will strengthen its comparative advantage to compete on the European market in heavy industry,” Vitanov said.

Currently, Macedonia exports ferronickel, marble, travertine, parts of railway and tramway locomotives, brakes and other similar tin joints, goods for further treatment and other products to India.

Macedonia’s imports from India — copper products, products of zinc, agricultural and forestry tractors, oil seeds and berries, coffee, pharmaceuticals, ferro-silico manganese and non-organic chemicals — are growing at a high rate.

Another area of expansion is medicines as imports from India — the number has tripled to $1m since 2007 due to the low cost.

The biggest Indian regional investment is in Serbia — a 25,000 metre IT park in the Indjija municipality worth $600m. The park’s construction was announced in 2007, but was halted because of the global economic crisis.

The investor, Embassy Group, announced plans to continue and finalise the project soon. Group officials said the park will employ 25,000 people — companies like Microsoft, IBM, Yahoo, HP, and Fideli will have offices there.

“The entire region will benefit from the entry of another major investment player, most importantly in terms of employing skilled youth, as well as lowering prices and increasing the quality of goods and services. This will particularly be true of the IT sector in which Serbia can attract regional specialists if the investments go through,” Boban Radoevic, head of the consulting firm Bombaks, told SETimes.

Businessmen in Macedonia agree that the investments are a win for everybody.

“Investments are welcomed, no matter where they come from. The EU states hesitate and do not invest in Macedonia, so we open the doors for other countries. We expect some significant investments from India as well as Malaysia, China and Russia,” businessman Vladimir Krstevski, who imports textiles from India, told SETimes.

In September 2011, the Manderson group was the first Indian company to enter the Macedonian market. The company’s 12m-euro investment is expected to provide 140 new jobs in Skopje, between its two plants that will produce parts for rearview mirrors.

The products will be sent to European car manufacturers.

During his visit to India earlier this month, Gruevski also launched talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, which will facilitate the exchange of banking and tax-related information between the two nations.

Macedonian PM seeks Qatari investments

Gulf Times ? Qatar?s top-selling English daily newspaper - Qatar
Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has called on the Qatari government and investors to invest in his country in all fields, specifically in the energy sector, as his country plans to sell 49% of government-operated power generator company ELEM.
Macedonia looks forward to locate a partner to increase productive energy for power producing stations at ELEM through funding investment projects to support such production, Gruevski said in an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) during his visit to Doha last week.
The Macedonian premier praised the strength and durability of Qatar’s economy. “It is a very strong and growing economy,” he said indicating that it sets the example in allocating natural resources for the benefit of its citizens.
He expressed his country’s hopes to bolster commercial and economic co-operation with Qatar in all sectors, especially in agriculture, tourism, energy, real estate, and hydraulics.
Gruevski referred to the substantial bilateral political and economic relations which were strengthened by mutual visits of rulers and senior officials in the two countries.
He hailed the ongoing co-operation between Qatar and Macedonia, which was crowned with the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding during HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani’s visit to Macedonia in October last year.
A cultural partnership agreement was signed during the Emir’s visit as well as an agreement concerning the regulation of Macedonian human capital in Qatar.
This is in addition to a pact concerning boosting and protecting mutual investment and a memorandum pertaining to the educational field.
Furthermore, the two countries signed an agreement on flight services and developing a joint business council between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) and the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce (MCC). Additionally, the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA) and QNA have signed a news exchange and partnership agreement.
The Macedonian premier has indicated that his visit to Doha came within the context of increasing co-operation between the two countries in a myriad of fields in the future and with the aim of exploring the establishment of commercial partnerships between Qatar and Macedonia.
He praised willingness of Qatari firms to invest in European countries, which he directly witnessed as he met with a number of businessmen in Qatar and officials from many national companies.
During his meetings, he looked into the possibility of Qatari investors exploring reserves in Macedonia, as he expressed hopes that Qatar would invest in oil and gas projects in his country as part of plans to develop necessary infrastructure for gas projects highlighting Qatar’s experience and in the industry.
He indicated that among available investment opportunities in Macedonia is the water energy as his country plans on building twelve hydro plants under the “Fata Feli” project, calling on the Qatari side to invest in this sector and in free economic zones.
Gruevski announced that there were negotiations on the possible recruitment of Macedonian human capital to Qatar, a percentage of which could work in the medical field.
Meanwhile the Macedonian premier indicated that he discussed during his meetings with a number of Qatari government officials the route for the political process in the Middle East and reinforcing political relations between Qatar and Macedonia.
This is in addition to reiterating the countries’ mutual commitment towards supporting initiatives at international forums including the UN and related institutions.

 

[Zoran]

India Investors Look To Balkans For Opportunity
India Investors Look To Balkans For Opportunity

India wants to be an important economic player in the Balkans, and Macedonia hopes to serve as the gatekeeper for the country’s investors — opening the doors to the region, and providing access to European markets.

Selling itself as a key player to open the 650 million-consumer European market, the country’s macro-economic stability and low tax regime “present a vital opportunity to explore huge business possibilities,” Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said on the sidelines of the Emerging Investment and Trade Opportunities in Macedonia conference earlier this month.

“Macedonia seeks to open the Balkan and European market for India. The government’s visits to India and other Asian countries shows its plan for the country to become a regional investment hub,” former Macedonian Finance Minister Zoran Vitanov told SETimes.

“The opportunities are two-way and are tremendous — Indian investments will reduce unemployment and allow greater GDP growth. Increasing the presence of Macedonian — and regional — companies on the Indian markets should not be forgotten,” he said.

“We can be a part of [the investment]. We plan to visit Macedonia soon and see up close the opportunities it offers and establish closer business ties. Our relations with Macedonia are old; the time has come to go to Macedonia now,” Subrathi Roy of the Sahara Group company said.

India has 54% of the world’s population under the age of 25, most highly educated, particularly in the field of software engineering. Indians’ purchasing power is growing 12% annually based on competition and profits.

“By investing in the Balkans, India will strengthen its comparative advantage to compete on the European market in heavy industry,” Vitanov said.

Currently, Macedonia exports ferronickel, marble, travertine, parts of railway and tramway locomotives, brakes and other similar tin joints, goods for further treatment and other products to India.

Macedonia’s imports from India — copper products, products of zinc, agricultural and forestry tractors, oil seeds and berries, coffee, pharmaceuticals, ferro-silico manganese and non-organic chemicals — are growing at a high rate.

Another area of expansion is medicines as imports from India — the number has tripled to $1m since 2007 due to the low cost.

The biggest Indian regional investment is in Serbia — a 25,000 metre IT park in the Indjija municipality worth $600m. The park’s construction was announced in 2007, but was halted because of the global economic crisis.

The investor, Embassy Group, announced plans to continue and finalise the project soon. Group officials said the park will employ 25,000 people — companies like Microsoft, IBM, Yahoo, HP, and Fideli will have offices there.

“The entire region will benefit from the entry of another major investment player, most importantly in terms of employing skilled youth, as well as lowering prices and increasing the quality of goods and services. This will particularly be true of the IT sector in which Serbia can attract regional specialists if the investments go through,” Boban Radoevic, head of the consulting firm Bombaks, told SETimes.

Businessmen in Macedonia agree that the investments are a win for everybody.

“Investments are welcomed, no matter where they come from. The EU states hesitate and do not invest in Macedonia, so we open the doors for other countries. We expect some significant investments from India as well as Malaysia, China and Russia,” businessman Vladimir Krstevski, who imports textiles from India, told SETimes.

In September 2011, the Manderson group was the first Indian company to enter the Macedonian market. The company’s 12m-euro investment is expected to provide 140 new jobs in Skopje, between its two plants that will produce parts for rearview mirrors.

The products will be sent to European car manufacturers.

During his visit to India earlier this month, Gruevski also launched talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, which will facilitate the exchange of banking and tax-related information between the two nations.

Macedonian PM seeks Qatari investments

Gulf Times ? Qatar?s top-selling English daily newspaper - Qatar
Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has called on the Qatari government and investors to invest in his country in all fields, specifically in the energy sector, as his country plans to sell 49% of government-operated power generator company ELEM.
Macedonia looks forward to locate a partner to increase productive energy for power producing stations at ELEM through funding investment projects to support such production, Gruevski said in an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) during his visit to Doha last week.
The Macedonian premier praised the strength and durability of Qatar’s economy. “It is a very strong and growing economy,” he said indicating that it sets the example in allocating natural resources for the benefit of its citizens.
He expressed his country’s hopes to bolster commercial and economic co-operation with Qatar in all sectors, especially in agriculture, tourism, energy, real estate, and hydraulics.
Gruevski referred to the substantial bilateral political and economic relations which were strengthened by mutual visits of rulers and senior officials in the two countries.
He hailed the ongoing co-operation between Qatar and Macedonia, which was crowned with the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding during HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani’s visit to Macedonia in October last year.
A cultural partnership agreement was signed during the Emir’s visit as well as an agreement concerning the regulation of Macedonian human capital in Qatar.
This is in addition to a pact concerning boosting and protecting mutual investment and a memorandum pertaining to the educational field.
Furthermore, the two countries signed an agreement on flight services and developing a joint business council between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) and the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce (MCC). Additionally, the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA) and QNA have signed a news exchange and partnership agreement.
The Macedonian premier has indicated that his visit to Doha came within the context of increasing co-operation between the two countries in a myriad of fields in the future and with the aim of exploring the establishment of commercial partnerships between Qatar and Macedonia.
He praised willingness of Qatari firms to invest in European countries, which he directly witnessed as he met with a number of businessmen in Qatar and officials from many national companies.
During his meetings, he looked into the possibility of Qatari investors exploring reserves in Macedonia, as he expressed hopes that Qatar would invest in oil and gas projects in his country as part of plans to develop necessary infrastructure for gas projects highlighting Qatar’s experience and in the industry.
He indicated that among available investment opportunities in Macedonia is the water energy as his country plans on building twelve hydro plants under the “Fata Feli” project, calling on the Qatari side to invest in this sector and in free economic zones.
Gruevski announced that there were negotiations on the possible recruitment of Macedonian human capital to Qatar, a percentage of which could work in the medical field.
Meanwhile the Macedonian premier indicated that he discussed during his meetings with a number of Qatari government officials the route for the political process in the Middle East and reinforcing political relations between Qatar and Macedonia.
This is in addition to reiterating the countries’ mutual commitment towards supporting initiatives at international forums including the UN and related institutions.

 

[Zoran]

EBRD provides 5 million euros for support of businesses (CRG)

Skopje, 3 April 2012 (MIA) - Five million euros in Denar equivalent from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are available for small, micro and medium-sized enterprises through ProCredit Bank. The agreement involving the new line - the first one in Macedonia in domestic currency - was signed Tuesday by ProCredit Bank General Manager Jovanka Joleska-Popovska and EBRD Director for Western Balkans, Croatia, Belarus and Molodva, Henry Russell.

Funds are intended for investment projects and working capital of enterprises in rural and urban areas as long-term loans with a five-year payment deadline. Enterprises will be able to obtain a loan up to 30 million denars.

This line of credit will secure more funds for long-term financing of the development of businesses and country's economic growth, Joleska-Popovska and Russell said after signing the agreement.

"The transaction is EBRD's first loan in a local currency in the country. It will reduce the foreign currency risk of enterprises and Denar devaluation," Russell stated.

The decision on taking a loan in local currency derived from the need of long-term Denar funds on the Macedonian market. "We believe that Denar long-term funds are necessary to truly support businesses since it serves as some kind of currency protection of businesses operating on the local market," the General Manager of ProCredit Bank said.

Russell stressed that EBRD aimed at allocating loans in domestic currency in order to offer diversity of credit products in Macedonia. "This is especially important when working with a partner in the private sector that deals with relatively small businesses," he said.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has invested 950 million euros in Macedonia's economy to date in projects related to the corporate and financial sector and in infrastructure and energy.

Six companies show OHIS interest

Skopje, 3 April 2012 (MIA) - One Macedonian, two Bulgarian, as well as companies from Russia, Turkey and Albania have shown interest in the public call for the sale of loss-making company Organic-Chemical Industry Skopje (OHIS). Four work in the same field as OHIS, whereas two have already taken the tendering documents, said Economy Minister Valon Saraqini after Tuesday's meeting with OHIS managers and trade unions.

"When communicating with potential investors we stressed that the 840 employees must keep their jobs in the next five years", said Minister Saraqini after the meeting.

The main criteria of the bid would be the price, the company's solvency, investments in the next five years and number of new jobs in the next three years. The company revenues need to amount to at least EUR 2 million in the last three years, along with a EUR 1 million bank guarantee.

"Potential investors accept these conditions, as well as environment criteria and investments in so-called eco-friendly technologies. I expect this tender to be the final one, ending successfully", said Saraqini.

 

[Zoran]

Business certification of municipalities for increased investment attraction

05.04.2012

Business certification of municipalities for increased investment attraction |

Business certification of municipalities guaranteeing their offer of swift and quality administrative services for the business community and potential investors is foreseen through project "Business-Friendly Certification - International Quality Seal for Business-Friendly Municipalities".

The project was officially launched with Thursday's signing of a cooperation memorandum by the Ministry of Economy, Association of Self-Government Units (ZELS), Macedonian Chambers of Commerce (SSK), and Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion. It will be implemented in the following 18 months, with the first stage encompassing municipalities Stip, Strumica, Struga and Veles.

"The project will enable municipalities to attract more domestic and foreign investors, primarily through modernization of their services. By creating a window where potential investors can obtain the required information for doing business, local self-government units will easily find themselves on the international map for investment attraction", said Economy Minister Valon Saraqin prior to the memo signing.

In order to get a business certificate, municipalities will need to meet 12 criteria, including the creation of favorable business climate and appropriate conditions in line with requirements of local companies and potential investors. Moreover, they will be maintained and upgraded, since the certificate is renewed every two years.

"The certificate represents a commitment for more efficient and more transparent administration, which is especially important for every investor, but also an acknowledgment over the improved municipal structure, as well as implemented standards. This will increase competitiveness of local businesses, as well as promotion at national, regional and international level. Investors will not need to look for other municipalities in the neighborhood to invest their capital", stressed Saraqini.

Project "Business-Friendly Certification - International Quality Seal for Business-Friendly Municipalities" is already implemented in Bosnia&Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia, where 17 municipalities have already been certified.

SSK will implement the project in Macedonia, supported by the Open Regional Fund within the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

 

[Zoran]

Over 90% of Roma businessmen don't use state aid

06. April 2012. | 08:40 08:42
Source: MIA

Only a fifth i.e. 20% of the businessmen from the Roma community in Macedonia have joined an association or organisation and over 90% do not use any state aid at all, a research by the Roma Business Information Center shows.

Only a fifth i.e. 20% of the businessmen from the Roma community in Macedonia have joined an association or organisation and over 90% do not use any state aid at all, a research by the Roma Business Information Center shows.

This state needs to be changed by offering more information regarding the programmes for support of businesses and by enabling more active participation in business organizations, according to Vice PM for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski.

"I call on the members of the Roma business community to take active part in business organisations and associations, because it will be of great benefit for them," Pesevski told participants at the 7th Roma Economic and Business Forum held Thursday in Skopje.

The government, he added, is making efforts to alleviate the effects of Europe's recession and is constantly backing projects for development of all communities.

"Education is an essential part within the Roma population. In this respect, the fact that more and more Roma students are enrolling in elementary and especially in high schools is encouraging. At the moment, the government awards 1,700 scholarships for Roma high school students and it is expected to support about 2,500 students annually in the period between 2012 and 2015," Pesevski said.

The Vice PM urged reforms related to the labour market to resume in order unemployment amongst the Roma population to be reduced.

It was announced that two more Roma educational centers will be opened and that employment trainings for Roma people will continue.

Participants at the forum also discussed the effects of a project aimed at making incomes by collecting plastic for recycling, which was conducted from April 2011 to March 2012. 350 informal plastic waste collectors attended trainings and agreements for organised PET collecting were also signed.

Businessmen from Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Albania attended the 7th Roma Economic and Business Forum.

Macedonia’s international airports report 20% growth

06.04.2012
Macedonia’s two international airports, Skopje and Ohrid, have so far this year reported growth of over 20%. In March, the two airports combined welcomed 57.596 passengers, an increase of 24% compared to the same month last year, despite the loss of both ČSA Czech Airlines and Malev Hungarian Airlines. During the first few months of the year, most passengers departing Skopje Alexander the Great Airport were heading to either Zurich (26%) or Istanbul (14.3%). So far this year the airports have seen an average passenger increase of 23.5%.

“Following the modernisation and concession of Macedonia’s airports, there has been continual passenger growth. Last year Macedonia’s airports handled 834.273 passengers, which represents an increase of 15% on the year before”, the Ministry of Transport and Communication said in a statement. The airports have also seen an increase in flights despite the loss of the above mentioned big players.

Telekom to distribute EUR 100 million in dividends, Government gets EUR 38 million

Skopje, 4 April 2012 (MIA) - The largest shareholders in Makedonski Telekom - Magyar Telekom and the Government - have decided to share 2011 dividends in gross amount of Denar 6,16 billion (EUR 100,22 million).

The Shareholders Assembly decided Wednesday that the Government gets Denar 2,38 billion (EUR 38 million), taking into account it owns 38.7 percent of Telekom shares.

The gross amount of the 2011 dividends includes the EUR 20 million of T-Mobile Macedonia profit, which is transferred from 2010 to 2011. Last year's profit of Makedonski Telekom and T-Mobile amounted to EUR 80 million.

Dividend payments will be distributed between April 25-May 7.

 

[Zoran]

Lukoil opens new gas station in Macedonia

Skopje, 7 April 2012 (MIA) - Russian oil company Lukoil will open Saturday a new gas station on Kumanovo-Skopje motorway.

The opening ceremony is expected to be attended by PM Nikola Gruevski, Transport Minister Mile Janakieski, Kumanovo mayor Zoran Damjanovski and Russia's ambassador to Macedonia, Oleg Scherbak.