The iBalkans Full 3.0 version

The iBalkans Full 3.0 version available on the Apple Store NOW!

Compatible with iOS 6.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibalkans-full/id357013303?mt=8

Inter-cultural Communication in the Balkans is Easy Using an iPhone

An international consortium of language and technology experts has created an application for the Apple iPhone / iPod / iPad that allows easy intercultural communication between all Balkan languages. iBalkans is a multimedia, multilingual phrasebook for the relatively unstudied languages of the Balkans: Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Macedonian, Romanian, Turkish, Serbian, Slovene and English, French, German and Russian. The unique application is built on the simple idea that "language is power" and that knowing to read and speak even a few simple phrases can help the visitor gain access to the rich local cultures.

iBalkans is truly a unique computer assisted language learning application intended for both visitors to the Balkans and people living there who wish to communicate with their neighbors across language barriers. It is much more than a travel phrasebook and allows the user to enter into the very center of the rich and varied Balkan cultures. With iBalkans loaded onto ones iPhone, visitors to any country in South Eastern Europe can easily communicate with the locals, thereby enabling trips off the beaten track and into the very heart of the Balkans.

The most remarkable feature of iBalkans is the phrases themselves. Phrases are divided into topics: Food and Drink, Travel, Essentials, Conflict-What Conflict?, Romance, Life on the Street and the innovative Ten Phrases that Can Save Your Life. Thus, iBalkans is a very contemporary phrasebook for all types of travelers. It contains all of the basic and traditional phrases found in most printed phrasebooks (days of the week, months, numbers, etc.) but it also contains many phrases that are unique to the Balkans and really represent the Balkan mentality ("I am on your side," "No thanks, I can't eat anymore," "I could drink all night!", or even "Try to be on time next time.").

The technology behind the application follows closely the features of Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch and the new iPad. It is easy to use and designed according to Apple's Human Interface guidelines. iBalkans is simple to download, install and learn. The user chooses his source language and target language and then scrolls through intuitively designed groups of phrases. The user chooses a phrase and immediately is provided its equivalent in the target language. The user reads the phrase and presses its button to hear the correct pronunciation by native speakers. It is easy to change source and target language so iBalkans can be used in any country in any language environment.

iBalkans is designed by language professionals and uses native speakers and guides for all languages. All multimedia elements were recorded in the Balkan countries. The sound quality is professional and the speakers are fully involved in the translation of phrases. iBalkans is also a pedagogically sound way to improve ones knowledge of any of these languages. Languages in non-roman scripts (Bulgarian, Greek and Macedonian) also include a handy transliteration button, which allows the user to easily read the phrase. The application includes a Quiz feature that allows the user to assess his knowledge.

iBalkans is a true multimedia phrasebook and includes 850 useful phrases for any combination of the Balkan languages. The flexible approach used to design the application fits the needs of different users in different language settings. The user has complete control over which languages he installs on the application and which phrases are to be highlighted. For example, an English-speaking visitor to the western parts of Macedonia may wish to install both Albanian and Macedonian as well as English as the three languages to be used. Or a French-speaking visitor to Serbian-populated areas of Romania may wish to install Romanian, Serbian as well as French. A Serbian tourist in Turkey may wish to add Turkish to his version of iBalkans.
It is easy to download iBalkans directly at Apple's iTunes or simply search for iBalkans for more details. iBalkans comes in two versions: iBalkans Full which contains all phrases in all languages and iBalkans which contains all phrases in 3 languages (the user choose which languages to install but can always add more languages later ). iBalkans costs $4.99 (with three languages) and additional languages cost $1.99. iBalkans Full costs $14.99. There is also a free version, iBalkans Lite, with only a few phrases.

iBalkans is designed and created by professional linguists and IT specialists and is intended for anyone wishing to communicate in these languages. It is a perfect companion for summer travels to Greece, Albania, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For those travelling to the US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, France, Germany and Russiait is the ideal way to make oneself understood on travels abroad. iBalkans is already being used on five continents by hundreds of diplomats, businessmen, students, travelers, tourists and NGO professionals.

Corporate Identity: iBalkans was conceived, designed and developed by an international consortium of language experts, pedagogists, translators, programmers and IT specialists. Vapa is quickly becoming a recognized leader in developing innovative cross-cultural communication applications, networks and training. Vapa also advise developers and designers on product development and work with universities, government agencies, NGOs, and industry to span the world's cultures.

Contact:
info-vapa@vapa.mk

Carrefour hypermarket opens in Macedonia

On 4 October 2012, our franchisee the “Marinopoulos SA” Group will opened its first hypermarket in Macedonia, in the city of Skopje. 

The “City Mall Skopje” Carrefour will have a sales area of 3800 m² and will be located in the town centre in Macedonia’s largest shopping centre with 150 stores, a bowling alley, cinemas and space for 1500 cars.

It will be Marinopoulos’ 8th hypermarket in the Balkans. Macedonia has a population of 2,050,000, with 700,000 people living in Skopje.

Skopje City Mall opens today

The new Skopje City Mall, which officially opens late on Wednesday, will offer renowned global brands and local trademarks to consumers from Macedonia and the region.

The EUR 70 million investment will open over 2,000 jobs. Zara, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Carrefour are just some of the brands selling their products in Skopje City Mall.

The facility also includes a multiplex 3D cinema, bowling facility, cafes, restaurants, cosmetics, bookstores, children's corners, services and other content, along with a 1,300-capacity multi-storey car park.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski, Karpos Mayor Stevco Jakimovski, as well as CEOs of investing companies Fashion Group and Balfin, Zoran Antic and Samir Mane respectively, will attend today's formal opening of Skopje City Mall.

According to announcements, Skopje City Mall aims at meeting needs of domestic and regional consumers, becoming the most successful shopping center on the Balkans.

Info-museum section at Skopje airport opens

The Customs Administration will acquaint passengers on their rights and obligations when entering and leaving the country through an info-museum section, comprised of a display, banners and brochures on the type of goods that are allowed and forbidden, i.e. commodities to be reported with customs.

Customs Administration director Vanco Kargov opened the section at Skopje-based airport "Alexander the Great" on Wednesday, in the attendance of Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska and Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska.

"The goal is to give passengers entering or leaving the country simple information, since they are not exposed to unnecessary difficulties. This is a practice used by other countries too", said Kargov.

Special glass showcases include different types of commodities and items that are allowed or forbidden for entry and exit, commodities and items subject to customs taxes, trademark commodities and items, products of animal origin, artifacts and archaeological items subject to protection by international conventions, as well as info-brochures towards improving the passengers' knowledge of their rights and commitments when entering or leaving Macedonia's customs area.

The section is placed in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Museum of the City of Skopje, the Cultural Heritage Protection Office, Confiscated Property Management Agency, and the Ministry of Interior.

Macedonian, Austrian companies hold business meetings

Macedonian firms will hold business meetings with renowned Austrian companies in the field of environment at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia on Wednesday.

Austrian companies specialized in environment friendly technologies aim at finding partners for distribution/representative offices, importers to Macedonia, end consumers, offer of services and know-how, licenced firms, joint venture partners, research of production potentials of Macedonian companies, joint partnership/participation at international windmill projects, windmill parks etc.

Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Abdilaqim Ademi is set to open the business meetings, also organized by the Trade Department within Austria's Embassy to Macedonia, as well as the Carinthia Chamber of Commerce.

Presentation "Environment Friendly Technologies" will be held prior to the business meetings.

Kumanovo hosts 15th Days of Comedy festival

The 15th international festival "Days of Comedy" starts Monday evening in Kumanovo. Ten comedies from Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Kosovo will be performed at the festival.

"The festival has been organised for 15 years. The first year I hoped that Kumanovo would accept it and that the event would become traditional. Now I can freely say that the festival enriches the city's cultural life," said Risto Stefanovski, a member of festival's council.

The festival each year is better and better and hopefully one day it will host European productions, organisers have said.

"Days of Comedy" festival is financed the Ministry of Culture.

Macedonia-Estonia business forum in Skopje

Energy, agriculture, IT and tourism are the sectors where Macedonia and Estonia can enhance bilateral cooperation, agreed participants at Monday's business forum in Skopje.

"I am convinced that today's event will enhance existing and create new business ties between Macedonia and Estonia, through the use of prior business experience and friendly relations", said Economy Minister Valon Saraqini in the opening address.

He added that bilateral economic cooperation should increase, with today's forum representing a good opportunity for this.

Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts said history was written in Skopje, expressing hope the forum was just the beginning of numerous business meetings between the two countries.

"I hope these two days will be fruitful and enable the launch of new businesses. I believe there are opportunities for enhancement of business relations in the textile and metal industries", added Parts.

Total trade exchange with Estonia in 2011 was approximately US$ 1,6 million, whereas Estonian investments in Macedonia amounted to EUR 1,22 million.

Macedonian wine to be promoted in Netherlands and Poland

Eleven Macedonian wineries from the association "Wines from Macedonia" will promote their wines in the Hague and Warsaw from October 21 to 24.

Macedonian wineries including Tikvesh, Stobi, Skovin, Dalvina, Bovin, Popov, Dudin, Kamnik, Ezimit, Popova Kula and Filovski will present wines before Dutch and Polish connoisseurs of fine wines, importers and distributors.

According to the marketing strategy for exporting wine in the EU, prepared by the wineries, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Switzerland have been assessed as the most perspective markets for the Macedonian wine.

Dutch Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) support the promotions. Macedonian embassies in the two countries and Agency for Foreign Investment and Export Promotion through its economic promoters are also included in the organisation of the promotional events.

So far, Macedonian wine was presented in Helsinki, Chicago, Washington and New York. As a result of wine promotion in China, seven wineries have already signed export contract. The promotions held during this year are supported by international donors - CBI and USAID.

EBRD loan for overhaul of Railway rolling stock

Macedonian Railways (MZ)Transport will overhaul its rolling stock through a EUR 50 million loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), following Monday's signing of the agreement between Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and MZ Transport director Oliver Derkoski with EBRD Head of Skopje Office Elena Urumovska.

The EUR 50 million will be used for the procurement of 150 freight cars, 4 diesel-engine passenger car sets, 2 electric-engine passenger car sets and reconstruction of 6 electric locomotives.

Vice Premier Stavreski said the cars' procurement would significantly increase the thriftiness of MZ Transport, since costs for maintenance of the rolling stock would be cut, while the company's competitiveness would increase, thus creating conditions for better services of commodities and passengers.

"This investment represents the start of a mini-investment cycle in the railway sector, which also includes reconstruction of the Corridor 10 railroad and construction of several sections", said Stavreski.

Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski said the procurement would secure up to 1,800 new seats for passengers that use MZ Transport services.

"The new passenger cars would be manufactured in line with European standards, enabling comfortable transport, fully air-conditioned and with access for handicapped persons", said Janakieski.

A tender is to be scheduled by the end of this or the start of next year, whereas the supplier would be known by mid-2013.

Head of the EBRD Office to Skopje Urumovska emphasized that the railway modernization process supported by the bank would result in changes beneficial for passengers and transporters.

"Besides the procurement of new cars and the reconstruction of the electric locomotives, the loan also provides funds for improvement of the energy efficiency of the workshops and introduction of an energy efficiency system within the company", said Urumovska.

24-hour modernized control of goods and passengers at borders introduced

24-hour control of the transport of passengers and goods at borders is provided through the upgraded one-stop shop system on permits for import, export and transit of goods and tariff quotas (EXIM system), which is now an electronic link between the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Customs Administration.

"The introduction of the system on October 1 will be another blow to the unfair competition and time will be saved for controlling transporters," Transport Minister Mile Janakieski told a press conference held Wednesday with the director of the Customs Administration, Vanco Kargov.

The system will enable transport of good by local and foreign transporters to be completely registered, while illegal transportation will be reduced at the same time. Records will be kept for all kinds of transportation of passengers as they will be controlled and abuse of transport permits is set to be eliminated, according to him.

"Both the Ministry of Transport and the State Transport Inspectorate are going to have an insight into international transport in Macedonia and possible illegal transport. Economic operators on the other hand will cross borders for a shorter time. At the same time,  the accelerated control will significantly reduce and eliminate transition of foreign vehicles or buses on the territory of Macedonia that steal the businesses of local transporters," Kargov stated.