We have a positive experience with German investments in Macedonia and most likely yet another investment by a German company will be announced by the end of the year, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said at a business forum in the German city of Cologne, which was attended by company officials in the field of the automotive industry, information technology, energy, etc.

“We have a good experience with German investments. Dräxlmaier came in Macedonia opening a plant in Kavadarci. Despite planning on opening 4,100 jobs, the company has already created 4,900 jobs. Kromberg & Schubert also invested, opening 2,500 jobs. Now Marquardt in the vicinity of Veles is building a plant for 600-700 direct employments. ODV Electric in Ohrid has already begun recruiting workers and plans to build a plant in April or May next year. Now the company is operating in a brownfield hall. There are others and I hope by the end of the year we will manage to close negotiations with a German company,” stated Gruevski.

Speaking before the businessmen in attendance, he elaborated the benefits offered in Macedonia to foreign investors, including low tax package, favourable conditions in the technological and industrial development zones, tax exemptions and an access to a wide European market.

PM Gruevski praised the business forums held in Frankfurt and Cologne, which were attended by numerous German businessmen.

“We’ve presented all the necessary details and they were quite satisfied. Separate meetings were also held with some of them, while with others contacts had been established some time ago and this was an opportunity to give them an additional dose of information and analyzes which we deem will be helpful in encouraging them to pick Macedonia as their next business destination,” the Macedonian PM said.

The German managers commended the conditions offered in Macedonia to foreign investors as well as the approach used to present business benefits and attract investors.

“I was mostly impressed by the fact that high-ranking government officials from Macedonia are open for approach. I believe that we, the international investors, do not have the chance to see this very often. The Macedonian government officials are paying visits, they are open and friendly in their approach… Tonight we met the right people and got necessary information first-hand,” stated Christian Konrad of LLM Company.

Businessman Torsten Walter said the conditions for new companies from Western Europe willing to invest in South-eastern Europe were very good.

“From workforce, to infrastructure and open approach to new investors, this is all quite impressive for me. For the first time, from the start I have a good feeling with the people who want to bring investors in their own country and to ensure stability in the production process. From our point of view, I believe in the future we can have excellent cooperation,” noted Walter.

One of the strongest comparative advantages in attracting investments is the fact that German investors positively assess the quality of workforce in Macedonia, according to Viktor Mizo – director of the Directorate for Technological-Industrial Development Zones (TIRZ).

In addition to PM Gruevski and director Mizo, Deputy PM Vladimir Pesevski and the Minister for Foreign Investments Vele Samak also addressed the business forum.