The Republic of Macedonia has drawn the attention of the investment community worldwide with its swift and confident campaign toward the top three places of reform-oriented countries according to the prestigious World Bank report "Doing Business" for several consecutive years. In the 2013 WB report, the Republic of Macedonia is ranked 23rd amongst 185 countries, having the highest ranking compared with any emerging economy in Southeast Europe. With respect to its conditions for opening a business, Macedonia is 5th, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said in his address before a number of entrepreneurs at a business forum in Houston.

Even though my country is small in size, he added, it is one of the biggest advocates of the values on which the American society is founded. "The excellent political relations between the United States and the Republic of Macedonia testify for the common strategic interests and goals. They paved the way to swift enhancement of the economic cooperation, in particular in the field of foreign investments and launched a new era in our bilateral business ties. Being aware of the US economic potentials, I am convinced that there are numerous unused opportunities for cooperation in commerce and investments," PM Gruevski said inviting the American businessmen to visit Macedonia and examine its potentials.

Thanking the organisers for their hospitality and the businessmen for their precious time, Gruevski stated that the visit to Houston - the center of energy industry, biomedical research and aeronautics - took place at a time when the American economy was recovering from the latest recession. "According to recent projections, a period of moderate economic growth of 3% is imminent. Your country has once again shown to the world that it is a top business leader thanks to the strength, hard work and innovative spirit of the American entrepreneurs. Part of their innovation lies in the capability of recognising the benefits of foreign markets," the PM said at the Houston forum.

"Despite the fragile economic growth in Europe and the general drop of foreign investments, in the past couple of years we welcomed the investments by 'Johnson Controls', 'Kemet Electronics', 'Kromberg & Schubert' and 'Dräxlmaier Group', 'Windtech International', 'Protek Group' and many other companies. At the moment, a serious interest for investing is shown by companies from the United States, China, India and Qatar, which for us is a strong confirmation that Macedonia is on the right track toward economic prosperity," Gruevksi noted.

These achievements are no coincidence, they are a result of the essential reforms implemented by the Macedonian government in the past six years, according to him.

After signing free trade agreements with the EU, EFTA and CEFTA member countries and bilateral treaties with Turkey and Ukraine, Macedonia has managed to overcome the problem of being a small market. Now those planning to invest in Macedonia will practically secure a market of over 660 million consumers, Gruevski elaborated.

"Macedonia didn't feel any major consequences from the global economic crisis and was one of the first countries that have managed to restore positive rates of economic growth, registering a GDP growth of 3%," the Macedonian premier noted.

With a goal to lift the main barriers for running a business, Macedonia has launched in-depth administrative reforms.

PM Gruevski welcomed the business forum in Houston, whose "goal is to strengthen the economic cooperation between the US and Macedonia."

"The visit to Houston, the second destination of the government's business road show before a large group of American companies as part of my mission to encourage investors to come in Macedonia, went very well," Gruevski stated after the forum.

After Detroit and Houston, the Macedonian government delegation will visit Los Angeles to present the country's investment conditions.