Government team led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski presented Wednesday conditions for investing and business start-up in the Republic of Macedonia before the management of German companies "Siemens" and "BMW".

Meetings focused on the companies' investment plans and reforms undertaken in Macedonia, so that the German firms launch a process of detailed analysis.

The Government team is also scheduled to meet with representatives of several companies from the automotive industry, aimed at enhancing processes over passing the final decision for investments in Macedonia.

Investment opportunities and benefits will also be presented at the Macedonian-German business forum in Munich, attended by about 60 companies, mainly from Bavaria. The target sectors where German investments are expected are the automotive industry, ICT, agriculture and food processing, business services, pharmaceutical industry, energy and renewable energy sources, construction, tourism and infrastructure.

German foreign direct investments up to 2010 amount to EUR 71 million, i.e. approximately three percent of the total FDIs in Macedonia, mainly through privatization and post-privatization of textile industry, metal-processing industry and transport.

Germany is one of Macedonia's most significant trading partners, topping the list in 2010 with regards to bilateral trade exchange. Total exchange in 2011 amounts to US$ 1,1 billion with surplus on the Macedonian side.

Macedonia's investment opportunities will also be presented at a business forum in Dusseldorf.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski met late Tuesday with Bavaria's State Minister for European and Federal Affairs, Emilia Mueller, whereas a meeting with Rainer Lindner, Executive Director of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations is scheduled on Thursday.

PM Gruevski is accompanied by Vice Premier for European Affairs Vladimir Pesevski, Minister for Foreign Investments Vele Samak, director of Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion Visar Fida, and director of the Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones, Viktor Mizo.