31 May 2013

Skopje's Old Theatre to be opened today


Skopje's reconstructed Old Theatre will be formally opened today.

The premiere of "Eternal House" - a play by Jordan Plevnes will mark the start of theatre season of the Macedonian National Theatre in September.

The Museum of the Macedonian National Theatre, which represents first formed theatre museum collection presented in Macedonia, will also be promoted.
Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska will address the opening ceremony.

The new theatre building is on the bank of the river Vardar and has been constructed on the foundation of the old theatre which was destroyed in 1963 Skopje earthquake.





30 May 2013

Macedonian Wines promoted in China


Wines produced by eleven Macedonian wineries will be showcased from Thursday to Saturday at the Interwine international wine and spirits exhibition held in Guangzhou, China.

Wines by the wineries Tikves, Stobi, Skovin, Dalvina, Popov, Bovin, Kamnik, Dudin, Ezimit, Imako and Popova Kula will be presented at a joint stand. Wine tasting and a presentation of Macedonia as a tourist and investment destination is also planned at the event for the visitors.

Stobi's Vranec Veritas 2011 and Bovin's Disan 2010 have been awarded at a wine competition out of 130 wines from 20 countries. Macedonia's Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion has been recognised for being the best strategic partners at this year's edition of the exhibition.

The 120 square meter pavilion, where Macedonian wines will be presented, was provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. The Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion, the Agency for Tourism Support and the "Wines of Macedonia" association together with the Chinese embassy in Macedonia enabled the presentation.

More than 500 exhibitors from 20 countries worldwide are presenting their products at the Interwine international wine and spirits exhibition. It is visited by over 20.000 exporters and wine distributors from all over China.

28 May 2013

International "Tremolo Guitar Fest" opens in Skopje

The International Festival of Classical Guitar "Tremolo Guitar Fest" will be held 24-26 May in organisation of the Children Cultural Centre "Karpos" and the City of Skopje.
Also for the fourth time in a row an international classical guitar competition for pupils, high school students and university students will be held.

The jury is comprised of famous guitar players Darko Bageski and Aleksandar Krstanovski (Macedonia), Dzevdet Sahatdzija and Antonio Rumenovic (Croatia), Darko Karajic and Bosko Radojkovic (Serbia) and Stela Dinkova (Bulgaria). The best guitar players will be awarded.

26 May 2013

Promotional Bicycle ride in Skopje


The City of Skopje and the Cycling Federation of Macedonia organized Sunday promotional event "Ride a Bike" in Skopje downtown.


Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski and Cycling Federation of Macedonia President Saso Dimitrioski took part in the ride, saying it aimed at promoting the bicycle as an alternative means of traffic, which use has a number of positive benefits.


"The City of Skopje pays much attention to improving the infrastructure for the use of bicycles in the city. I would like these promotional rides to be held at least once a month at alternative routes", said Mayor Trajanovski.

He added the bicycle has a number of benefits, mainly environmental and financial.

21 May 2013

First Archeological Park in Macedonia


The first archaeological park in Macedonia will open Tuesday, organized by association "Arheologika".

"Arheo Park Brazda", supported by the corporate social responsibility program of Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM), is located in village Brazda, Cucer-Sandevo municipality.

19 May 2013

Construction of wind park in Bogdanci begins

Cornerstone laying ceremony marked Saturday the start of the construction of "Bogdanci" wind park. This is the first wind park in Macedonia which will provide pure energy from renewable source using the wind energy.

The project is expected to become operational in several months. The first phase includes 16 wind turbines; total capacity of the wind park will reach 36.8 MW and annual energy production of 100 GWh. It will provide energy to 15.000 households or a total of 60.000 citizens.

By this project we begin new chapter in energy strategy and portfolio in the Republic of Macedonia. Such tendency is unavoidably necessary if high oil prices, limited natural resources and partially used hydro potential of the country are taken into account, PM Nikola Gruevski said at the cornerstone laying ceremony.

He also mentioned that development of energy sector is one of the fundamental driving force of economic development of every country.

Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM AD) General Manager Dejan Boskovski said that turbines will be highest qualities and installed capacity of every wind turbine is 2.3 MW, the pillars are 84 meters high with 93-meter diameter blades.

Development of necessary infrastructure for wind park and accompanying facilities are currently being constructed.

German Ambassador Gudrun Stenacker also addressed the ceremony expressing assurance that the wind park will convey significant energy and political message.

The wind park implemented by ELEM clearly shows the efficient cooperation between Macedonia and Germany, she said.

Part of the funds for wind park realisation was provided through a credit from German development bank KfW signed in April 2012. The €55.5 million project is part-financed by a loan from German development bank KfW (€32.9 million) and the rest of the funds (€22.6 million) are provided by ELEM AD.

17 May 2013

Skopje hosts Prom Parade, 2013

More than 1.200 students from Macedonian high schools danced Friday in Skopje city square the "Quadrille" upon the music from "The Bat" by Johan Strauss, thus joining for the seventh time international event Prom Parade 2013.

Also high school graduates from Kumanovo, Strumica, Gevgelija, Ohrid and Struga participated at the parade.

European Union, your future home, is as this dance, all different but still the same, EU Ambassador Aivo Orav said greeting the high school graduates.

Zorica Stamenkovska from Agency for Youth and Sport expressed satisfaction from huge number of graduates, participants at the parade, who will succeed this year to enter the Guinness Book of Records.

Believe in yourselves, inspire the people around you, do not stop realising your dreams, wishes and ideas, Stamenkovska said to high school graduates.

Organisers of the event are Skopje Culture and Art Office and "Ritam Plus" dance club, supported by the City of Skopje, Agency for Youth and Sport and EU Delegation to Macedonia.

According to the idea of the organisers, also 1963 high school graduates joined the event marking their 50th prom anniversary.

14 May 2013

Belgian Companies mull investments in Macedonia

Several Belgian textile companies and a brand from the chemical industry have shown interest to invest in Macedonia, said Agency for Foreign Investments director Visar Fida after Tuesday's business forum, MIA reports from Brussels.
After the presentation in the premises of the Belgian Textile Federation, Fida told MIA the country's textile sector sought new business destinations in Europe, which would enable easier and faster access to established markets.

"These meetings offer a good chance to attract these companies, first to visit Macedonia and afterwards to decide and invest in the country", added Fida.
Besides companies from the textile industry, Fida said cooperation could be established with brands from other sectors.

"Today we met with representatives of one of the largest global companies in the chemical industry, who voiced their interest to visit and possibly invest in Macedonia, since the company wants to be closer to the Middle East and the Turkish market", he said.
During his stay in Brussels, Fida will also meet with representatives of companies from the IT, automotive and chemical industries.

13 May 2013

Tourists from Greece with most visits to Macedonia


According to the data of the State Statistical Office, the number of tourists visiting Macedonia in March 2013 was at 34.495, while overnight stay at 73.241.
The State Statistical Office says a total of 5.019 Greek tourists visited Macedonia in March, followed by guests from Serbia - 2.615 and Turkey - 2.578. The country's capital Skopje welcomed a total of 11.158 tourists.

The number of tourists in March 2013, compared to same period last year, is higher for 7.5%, and of overnight stay for 10.2%.
The number of domestic tourists in March 2013, compared to last March, decreased by 8.8%, while the number of foreign ones increased by 18.4%.

The number of nights spent by domestic tourists in March 2013 decreased by 4.5%, whereas the number of overnight stay by foreign tourists increased by 22.6%.

The number of tourists in the period January - March 2013, compared to the same period last year, increased by 2.8%. The number of domestic ones decreased by 1.5%, while that of foreign tourists increased by 5.9%.

The number of nights spent in the period January - March 2013, compared to the same period last year, increased by 4.3%. The number of nights spent by domestic tourists increased by 1.4%, while those by foreign ones increased by 6.9%.

Hilton expanding to Skopje

World-renowned brand "Hilton" has signed a franchise agreement with "Stone Bridge Hotel" over the construction of "Double Tree by Hilton Skopje" along the river Vardar in Aerodrom municipality.

The investment in the hotel is worth EUR 30 million, including 170 rooms, four conference halls, wellness and spa centers, business center etc.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said at Monday's cornerstone-laying ceremony that the arrival of "Hilton" confirmed that the efforts for attraction of investments in Macedonia yielded results.

"The hotel, which is to be completed next fall, will put Skopje on the map of cities that have this global hotel brand", said Gruevski.

According to him, the "Hilton" brand would have an enormous significance in the support of tourism in Skopje and Macedonia in general.

"Besides tourism, the construction industry will also benefit. Many construction workers will built the hotel, with numerous other companies from Macedonia to be indirectly involved. Following its construction, over 100 jobs will open, giving the investment additional value", added PM Gruevski.

Ulrich Widmer, Hilton Worldwide Senior Vice President Development Central Europe, said the brand suited Macedonia, offering exceptional capacities.

"We have enormous confidence in Macedonia's future and we are certain in Hilton's success", said Widmer.

Investor Ajdovan Ademoski said he was proud of bringing "Hilton" to Macedonia with the Government's support.

"Besides the hotel's capacities, we will also have educated staff in line with Hilton standards", stressed Ademoski.

12 May 2013

Kenyan athletes win Skopje Marathon


A record number of competitors from 36 countries - 4.900 in total - took part in this year's Skopje Marathon on Sunday. Kenyan athletes Wycliffe Kipkorir Biwot won the men's race of the ninth Skopje Marathon and Caroline Jemeli Kipruto won the women's race.

Biwot completed the 42-kilometer race in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 56 seconds, which is a new record. Kipruto also broke a record after finishing the race in 2 hours, 48 minutes and 49 seconds.

The Macedonian state championship was won by Riste Lazarov and Vesna Kiradzieva.
"Today we showed that Skopje and Macedonia can be proud of the Skopje Marathon for being a brand and sporting event with competitors and audiences from all around the world," said Kire Sinadinovski - director of the Skopje Marathon.

The 2013 Skopje Marathon featured a full marathon - 42km;  half marathon - 21km; 5-km race and mini marathon. The Skopje Marathon was on the list of Qualifying Marathon Races in 2012 for the Olympics Games in London. It has been a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) since 2009.

05 May 2013

Easter Liturgy at Skopje Church St Clement of Ohrid

Head of Macedonian Orthodox Church HH Stefan served Sunday an Easter Liturgy in Skopje Church Saint Clement of Ohrid.
President Gjorge Ivanov and the First Lady, Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Religious Communities Valentina Bozinovska were in attendance along with a great number of Orthodox faithful.
At midnight the Christ's resurrection was heralded in all MOC churches. Easter is the day when Jesus Christ proved his divine power and risen from the dead. 

04 May 2013

Macedonia pays tribute to Goce Delcev on 110. anniversary of his death


Macedonia paid tribute Saturday to Goce Delcev by appropriate sermon and flower-laying ceremonies at his grave in the  'St. Spas' (Holy Saviour) Church, regarding the 110th anniversary of the death of the ideologist of the Macedonian revolutionary struggle.

Representatives of state institutions, political parties, organizations, associations bearing his name paid their respects, while academician Blaze Ristovski was given the honor to reflect on Delcev's life and achievements.

The commemoration also promoted a project, which aims for the young Macedonians at home and abroad to nourish the memory of Delcev.

Flower-laying ceremonies were also held at Delcev's monuments at "Macedonia" square and City Park.

Visionary Delcev, who saw the world one century ago as a field for cultural contest among nations, was murdered by the Ottoman army in village Banica on 4 May 1893, while on his way to Ser.

The purpose of his last journey was to prevent or postpone the uprising, which was prepared at the Smilevo congress (May 2-7). Delcev believed political conditions were still not ripe for an uprising, which however occurred three months later (Ilinden Uprising).
Goce Delcev was born on 4 February 1872 in Kukus. He finished high school in Solun, then part of Aegean Macedonia and graduated from the Sofia Military Academy. Delcev worked as a teacher in Stip, but at the same time established a network of bases, committees and units of the secret Macedonian revolutionary organization (TMORO). He took part at the 1896 VMRO congress in Solun and served as VMRO's representative in Sofia until 1901.

Delcev says in the letters, which have been preserved until today, of his struggle for free and independent Macedonia, including vast rights for the poor population.

"The struggle's success will come through hard work, convincing all Turks, Greeks, Vlachs, Arnauts that we fight for a progressive-cultural state, based on radical and social principles, resulting in them extending the brotherhood arms, thus jointly resuming our struggle. This is how I see the world - a field for cultural contest among nations", writes Delcev.

03 May 2013

Wizz Air introduces direct flights Skopje - Stockholm

The low cost Wizz Air has inaugurated Friday a new direct Skopje-Stockholm flight.
Starting from today, citizens of Macedonia may fly from Skopje to the Swedish capital each Monday and Friday.

The new flight is part of the Government's project for supporting the development of the air traffic in Macedonia, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said today in a press release.
Since last October, when Wizz Air won the Government's international tender, aimed to attract European LCCs (low-cost carriers) by offering subsidies to cover a wide range of new routes from the Macedonian capital, the Hungarian airline has inaugurated six direct flights from Skopje to Milan (Italy), Dortmund and Munich (Germany), Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Malmo (Sweden) and Basel Mulhouse (France).

02 May 2013

EU Block is Macedonia's biggest trading partner

The volume of international trade in the first three months of 2013 was 2.447.987.000 US dollars.

According to preliminary data of the State Statistical Office, the export value of goods in Macedonia in the  period January - March 2013 was 948.053 thousand US dollars, and the import value was 1.499.934 thousand US dollars. Import  coverage by export was 63.2%. The trade deficit in the period January - March 2013 was 551.881 thousand US dollars.

The trade exchange according to products shows that in the exports the most significant products are supported catalysts with  precious metal or precious metal compounds as the active substance, ferro-nickel, iron and steel products (flat-rolled products), clothes, and petroleum oil preparations. In the imports, the most significant products are the crude petroleum oils, platinum and platinum alloys, unwrought or in powder form, nickel ores and concentrates and electricity.

From January till March the most important export partners were the EU's 27 countries (72.4%) and West Balkan  countries (18.8%), while the most important import partners were the EU's 27 countries (56.3%).

According to the total volume of international commodity trade, Macedonia's most important trade partners of are Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria (49.1% of the total international commodity trade).