Germany has been Macedonia's main trading partner and the third largest investor. We would like to make efforts in bringing Germany to the top spot, said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski at a business forum organized in cooperation with The Financial Times.

PM Gruevski addressed about 50 German businessmen, saying a group of companies have already invested in Macedonia, such as Deutsche Telekom, Kromberg&Schubert, Draxlmaier.

He referred to the fact that Macedonia has concluded free trade agreements with all European countries, including EU states, but also EFTA members, Ukraine, Turkey.

Moreover, Gruevski said Macedonia is a country with lowest doing business costs, including the lowest tax package in Europe.

"We implemented a number of reforms and measures in recent years, we cut a number of bureaucratic procedures through the so-called regulatory guillotine, in cooperation with the chambers of commerce and companies. This has resulted in Macedonia's surge to the 25. spot in the World Bank's Doing Business list", stressed the PM.

Gruevski also mentioned investments in infrastructure and gasification.

"We have signed an agreement with Russia for gas distribution through the South Stream pipeline, helping companies in developing their business with cheaper energy", he said.

He invited German businessmen to visit Macedonia and see first-hand the investment opportunities, promising the Government would do everything to help them in realizing their business plans.

Vice Premier for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski, Minister for Foreign Investments Vele Samak, and Directorate for Technological-Industrial Development Zones CEO Viktor Mizo also delivered presentations over the benefits of doing business in Macedonia.

The Government and The Financial Times have organized business forum in London, Paris, Vienna and Munich.