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Macedonia in Slikon Valley Presented as Land of IT Experts |
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Thursday, 13 November 2008Macedonia's story as successful business destination was presented late Tuesday by the Macedonian team led by PM Nikola Gruevski before numerous representatives of powerful US companies at the business forum in the Silicon Valley, the centre of US and global IT technology.
PM Nikola Gruevski and Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Zoran Stavreski addressed the business forum "Macedonia - Land of IT Experts" on economic policies with a special focus on reforms for enhancement of information society and education, aimed at improving general business climate and attraction of renowned US investors, MIA reports.
- Understanding the importance of these trends, Macedonian government established permanent development of information society as one of the most essential strategic priorities. This will contribute Macedonia to become part of the global economic network and to achieve significant progress in economy, Gruevski said, adding that central body for creation and development of information society is established aimed at enabling coordinated systematic access towards the realisation of the strategic priorities.
Ministry of Information Society is responsible for promotion and wide appliance of information and communication technologies.
PM Gruevski addressed the businessmen with believe that the government will contribute in realisation of these goals through providing good terrain and creating favourable business climate.
- Now Macedonia is in one of the best phases to attract foreign investors. The government wants to see Macedonia full of foreign investments in the following years. Maybe this sounds too ambitious but clearly reflects the urge and direction we are committed to achieve, Gruevski said.
Citing Lyndon Johnson, he said that Macedonia must open its doors of opportunities but also it must train its people to pass through these doors.
- That's why the Macedonian government with its work and with implementation of the reforms and attraction of foreign investors is trying to bring horizons of the American prosperity closer to Macedonian citizens, Gruevski said calling the US businessmen to invest in Macedonia.
Deputy PM Stavreski addressing the present guests at the forum said that Macedonia is stable macroeconomic country and excellent business destination. He pointed out the growth of GDP in Macedonia stressing that it was 5.9% last year and 6% this year and expecting that in 2009 it will reach 4.5% despite the recession that already has influence in the world.
- The risks of the global economic crisis and its influence in South East Europe including here Macedonia cannot be ignored; still our country is positioned better than previously to absorb such strokes. According to the latest EC's Report, the GDP growth is expected to be 4.5% in 2009, Stavreski said.
He pointed out that fact that foreign investments reached US$ 700 million in 2007, which is three times more on the average from the previous years and this year in the first 8 months they are increased by 10% compared to the same period last year.
- Our government's motto is less bureaucracy more business. Through Regulatory Guillotine project, which aims at cutting bureaucracy, we simplified numerous administrative procedures, reduced the deadlines of the state administration and number of needed documents through introduction of information technology and significant reduction of compensations and expenses, Stavreski said.
As arguments that Macedonia is good business destination he pointed out the EU candidate country status, meet criteria for NATO admission, availability of the country with young and competent work force, investment in IT, project for training of young managers, access to wider market of 650 million consumers, good infrastructure, the most attractive tax package in Europe with flat tax rate of 10%, special bonuses in free economic zones, intensive investments cycle in infrastructure and confirmation from the European Commission and the World Bank for improvement of the business climate.
- The government is committed to making Macedonia friendly business country. I want to encourage US companies to review comparative advantages of Macedonia for their future investments. We as government are prepared to provide any support to facilitate this process, Deputy PM Stavreski said.
US Ambassador Philip Reeker who accompanies government delegation in the US, positively presented Macedonia pointing out that it has young, ambitious and quality government which carries out consistent politics and the investors can recognise this.
He called businessmen to invest in Macedonia pointing out that the US Embassy is always open to help.
Minister for Information Society Ivo Ivanovski, "George Washington" University professor Peter Bock and chief executive officer of "iBank", Tom Markel also presented investment opportunity in Macedonia at the forum.
Macedonia's story as a successful business destination will also be presented before more than 100 representatives of powerful U.S. companies at the Chicago Business Forum titled "Macedonia - the New Wonder in Europe" on Friday. "Nortel" Chief Executive Officer and member of "Macedonia 2025" Board of Directors, Mike Zafirovski is to address the forum.
Moreover, event "Days of Macedonian Culture in USA" will be opened in the course of the Chicago visit, which includes a concert of famous Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski. sk/fd/9:48
November 13, 2008 |
Thursday, 13 November 2008
MIA
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