The engagement of experts in Macedonia's economy has been yielding better results than expected, namely 40 percent of domestic companies advanced their production and marketing sectors, while 10 percent benefited in terms of operational analyses and planning the future activities, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Friday.

About 87 percent of the companies believe they will be able to open jobs, while 86 percent again expressed wish for engaging foreign experts, the PM said.

"One of the Government's priorities is for Macedonian companies to be more successful and beef up their profits, which bring economic benefit, bolster the export, enable entrance on new markets, create jobs...Gruevski said at a meeting with representatives of the Chambers of Commerce, at which the project for engagement of foreign experts for the needs of domestic enterprises was presented.

Few days ago, he said, a new call has been issued for domestic companies that wish to engage foreign experts, which is open by April 24.

Companies with at least 51 percent domestic capital, existing for at least two years and having 5-250 employees are eligible to apply. The engaged experts are mainly from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria. The Government covers their expenses, except the ones for accommodation and local transportation.

The Government expects the cycle to be as successful as the first one, when 98 companies applied to enjoy the services of foreign experts.

Representative of the Chambers of Commerce also commended the project, saying that the favorable effect of the work of foreign experts is more than evident.

They say that companies dealing with information technology, industrial production, technology and finances have thus far expressed greatest interest for the services of foreign experts.