British company Johnson Matthey launched Wednesday the construction of the second plant in Macedonia, worth EUR 60 million, which is set to double production and open 100 new jobs.

"Johnson Matthey is the second large foreign company that has decided to reinvest in Macedonia. This demonstrates security, satisfaction, prosperity. When a company reinvests in Macedonia, this means it is satisfied from the initial investment, operating conditions, communication with authorities, and all other parameters required for good business", said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in the address at the cornerstone-laying ceremony in free economic zone Bunardzik.

According to him, the Government's policies rely on the principle of strategic partnership with the business sector and foreign companies in the country, whereas the strategy for improvement of business conditions in Macedonia resumed, accompanied by the country's promotion as an attractive business destination.

"Six years ago, Bunardzik was just a plain field, but now it can boast with the likes of Johnson Matthey, Johnson Controls, Teknohose, Kemet Electronics, Protek Group, along with several other plants in construction. Such trends are seen in other technological-industrial zones in the country, meaning that things move in a positive direction", emphasized PM Gruevski.

Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones (DTIDZ) director Viktor Mizo stressed the new Johnson Matthey investment confirmed that Macedonia was a fruitful soil for doing business.

The new plant makes Johnson Matthey the largest Greenfield investment exceeding EUR 120 million and 500 employees.

"Johnson Matthey has been present in Macedonia since 2010, producing six million world-class catalysts, being the country's number one exporter", said Executive Director on Environmental Technologies Larry Pentz.

He added the investment would be completed in the next two years. The expansion comes as a response to the rapidly increased demand for more sophisticated and complex catalysts. The company covers one-third of the global market of catalysts for light and heavy vehicles.

British Ambassador to Macedonia Christopher Yvon said cooperation with Johnson Matthey represented a model that other companies should follow.