Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski received late Monday the prestigious award for contribution to national and regional economic development in countries-members of the Vienna Economic Forum.

The award is presented to individuals who contributed to the economic promotion of their country and the region through successfully administered policies reflecting the goals of the Vienna Economic Forum, MIA reports.

In the forum address, PM Gruevski stressed that the vision of common present and future in the great European and Euro-Atlantic family remains Macedonia's top political and economic priority, representing an enormous benefit for the general prosperity of the region and beyond.

He stressed the Government's commitment to the country's faster economic development and referred to the fact that majority of the foreign exchange is realized with EU and Western Balkan countries.

"With regards to the macroeconomic indicators, Republic of Macedonia has a stable policy with strengthened financial regulations. One of the important macroeconomic benefits is the low inflation rate, which amounted to two percent in the last decade, achieved primarily due to the disciplined macroeconomic policies and the fixed foreign exchange rate. In addition, Macedonia has balanced public finances with low budget deficit, as well as a low public debt  amounting to approximately 25 percent of the GDP. Macedonia achieved an average GDP growth of 5.2 percent in the first half of 2011", said PM Gruevski.

He added that the country has the easiest, cheapest and fastest company registration procedure, 10-percent flat tax rates, gradual lowering of social contributions, as well as simplification of business regulations.

"GDP growth and foreign direct investments come as a result of the comprehensive reforms for improvement of the general business climate", underlined Gruevski in the address.

In the framework of the visit to Austria, PM Gruevski will hold meetings late Monday at the Federation of Austrian Industry. Investment opportunities will be presented Tuesday at the Macedonian-Austrian business forum. Gruevski is also scheduled to meet with President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl.

The Government delegation held in Vienna a number of meetings with representatives of Japanese, U.S. and German companies showing interest to invest in Macedonia.