By laying the cornerstone in the municipality of Petrovec, the construction of a multifunctional shopping centre began today, an investment of the Italian group Euroitalia worth 10 million euros. The business building will span across an area of 10.000 square meters and should provide 100 new jobs.

The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic Issues, Vladimir Peshevski in his address at the ceremony stated that the Italian investment is very important for the further development of the municipality of Petrovec. Along the invested 10 million euros and 100 new jobs, according to Peshevski, it is especially important that opportunities for trade will be created in the municipality, but also prerequisites for trade activities and exchange with the City of Skopje.

Indicating the great progress noted in the “Doing Business” Report of the World Bank, where Macedonia is ranked within the highest places in Europe for conducting reforms for doing business, the Deputy Prime Minister conveyed the message that the ultimate goal is not the high rankings on the lists, but, as he stated, the goal is to attend as many events such as today’s as possible, that mark starting of investments.

According to Peshevski, the fact that the shopping centre in Petrovec is the second investment of the Italian group in the country proves that the business climate has improved.

- The Government remains committed to the reforms and to further improvement of the business climate in order to attract as many investments as possible in the following period, which should provide greater economic development, reduce the unemployment and increase the living standard of the citizens, stated Peshevski.

Alberto de Luca, one of the investors in the shopping centre, announced that today’s event is only the beginning of the investment plans in Macedonia.

- We trust in Macedonia, as a young country where we will be met with warm reception from the citizens, as well, said de Luca.

According to the Mayor of the Municipality of Petrovec, Borche Mitevski, their next actual investment is already official. The Italian investors already purchased a construction plot covering an area of 6.000 square meters in Katlanovo, where they will construct a building with a total area of 27.000 square meters.

The contractor of the construction of the multifunctional shopping centre in Petrovec is the “Niki Gradba” company.