German Companies to invest in Macedonia

Several companies from Germany have announced their investments in Macedonia. The agreements are being finalized, but the Macedonian government team has not revealed the names of the German companies yet.
Allegedly, they operate in automobile industry. As soon as the agreements are completed, it will be known which companies responded positively to the government promotion of Macedonia as an attractive business destination.
Interest of German investors has been steadfast and Macedonia can expect more investments from Germany in the coming period, says Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski.
The coming period is very important for the country. Two corridors, Corridor 8 and Corridor 10 have to be completed, economy minister Vladimir Pesevski said.

Austrian company to launch 1 million euro investment in Vinica

Austria's Texport company in 2012 will invest one million euros for construction of a factory manufacturing workwear. The investor unveiled its final decision on Tuesday at the Macedonian-Austrian business forum held in Vienna. About 150 companies interested in investing in Macedonia attended the event.
The plant will be located in Vinica and is expected to open jobs for 200 people. Production is planned to be launched by the end of 2012, MIA reports from Vienna. Company's managing director Otmar Schneider said that land had been purchased and that project's realisation would be conducted in the winter. This is the third investment in Macedonia by Austria's Texport.
"We've started in 1999 in Skopje with 60 employees, now there are 200... The Kocani plant also employs 200 workers and the new investment is expected to open 200 jobs," Schneider.
He praised the working conditions and workforce in Macedonia, saying it was qualified for production of quality garments. Company's products are mainly exported throughout Europe as well as in South America and Saudi Arabia.Vice PM for Economic Affairs, Vladimir Pesevski said the investment was a proof that Government's strategy to attract investments was prolific. "Forums serve for establishing initial contacts, for triggering company interest and for wrapping up negotiations with companies that have already decided to invest in Macedonia," Pesevski stated.
The Vice PM said that Government's team had held talks with other firms in Vienna and expressed hopes that such positive news would be also announced in the future.
Macedonia's investment potentials were presented before Austrian businessmen, namely in manufacturing car components, the energy sector, IT, textile, agriculture...
Austria is one of the leading investors in Macedonia with an influx of foreign investments of 370 million euros between 1997 and 2010 and takes the prime spot according to the influx of foreign direct investments from 2005 to 2010. This year, the influx of investments stands at 10 million euros. Austrian capital has been invested in telecommunications, banking sector, insurance and other areas.

Numbers of Hotels in Macedonia Increased by 51.2%

In the period of 12 years, from 1999 to 2010, the number of hotels in Macedonia increased by 51.2 percent, from 82 to 124 hotels.
On the other hand, the number of hotel rooms dropped by 4.5 percent, from 5,916 to 5,651, in the same period, while the number of beds decreased by 13 percent, from 14,564 to 12,734, show the data of the analysis on Macedonian hotels in terms of change, which was carried out by Mitre Avramovski of Ohrid Tourism Faculty.
Reasons for such a situation are a chaotic transition and shutting down of numerous hotels built during the period of former Yugoslavia as well as construction and opening of smaller hotels.

Albanian tour-operators, journalists visit Macedonia

Popova Sapka

Economy Minister Valon Saraqini and Macedonian Ambassador to Tirana Vele Trpevski met Monday with tour-operators and journalists from the Republic of Albania, who pay a visit to Macedonia within project "Promotion of Macedonia's Winter Tourism in Albania".
"Macedonia-Albania cooperation in the tourism field has focused on stay of Albanian tourists in the Ohrid-Struga region, as well as vacations of Macedonian nationals on the Adriatic coast. This project aims at offering Albanians our winter resorts. Moreover, we want to create a joint tourism product for the global tourist by combining their seaside with our lakes and mountains", said Minister Saraqini.
The Albanian guests were presented with the possibilities of winter resorts Mavrovo and Popova Sapka. They also met with Macedonian tour-operators and representatives of country's tourism associations.

Skopje hosts Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Beaujolais Nouveau Day, organised by the French Cultural Center in Skopje, was marked yesterday in the capital.
The event, which aims to present this red wine fermented for only a few weeks and to establish a nice and long French tradition in Macedonia, was opened by French ambassador to Macedonia Jean-Claude Schlumberger.
Beaujolais Nouveau is released for sale on the third Thursday of November and the day is celebrated in many French-speaking and non French-speaking countries.
The Skopje event was held after a hiatus of several years. Managers Dimitar Pavlevski and Aleksandar Vuckovski at the ceremony were introduced into the Beaujolais Nouveau order for their efforts in affirming French-Macedonian relations.

Both Mak Airports register increase in travellers

The number of passengers transported through Skopje airport "Alexander the Great" and Ohrid-based "St.Paul the Apostle" in October has increased by 18.9 percent compared to the same month in 2010.
A total of 74,703 passengers were transported this October compared to last year's 62,876, said the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Thursday.

The same trend was registered in September, with the number of passengers rising by 25.4 percent compared to last year, i.e. 82,641 to 65,878.

Macedonia Presenting Its Folklore in China

Macedonia is promoting its folklore in China this week, ending in November 19.
Exhibit "Macedonian Folklore" of Gordana Vrencoska will have the honor the open the event at the Beijing Jintai Art Museum. The exhibit will display photos, items, graphics, along with traditional folk costumes.
Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, who is set to open the display, will sign Wednesday a cooperation program for the period 2012-2017 with Chinese counterpart Cai Wu.
In the course of the official visit to Beijing, Minister Kanceska-Milevska will visit several national institutions and meet with chairman of the China Artists Association.
On Thursday, prominent folk ensemble "Tanec" will give a concert in Beijing Century hall, followed by another one in the city of Dalian.

Ohrid's St. Paul the Apostle is Best in Class of Smaller Airports

Ohrid airport: Saint Paul the Apostle

According to the International Airport Council, Ohrid-based St. Paul the Apostle airport is the absolute winner in the group of small airports with up to five million passengers a year. In comparison with September 2011, goods transport growth reached 198.1 percent in a year.
The two Macedonian airports are managed by Turkish TAV. Istanbul-based Kemal Atatturk Airport, which is also managed by TAV, reported the highest growth in goods transport in its group of airports with more than 25 million passengers a year. Leading European airports (Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London) recorded losses in international goods transport (6, 5.7 and 3.7 percent).

Skovin's Wine popular in Japan

Macedonian winery Skovin, the only winery in Macedonia that exports wine to Japan, will strengthen its position on the Japanese market. The quality of Skovin’s wine was confirmed by experts from the largest Japanese winery, Santori.
The penetration of Macedonian wines in the Japanese market is even more significant if one takes into account that the Japanese market is very picky when it comes to quality. Export to Japan is expected to increase substantially in the coming period. Last year, 500,000 litres of wine was exported to Japan.Skovin has a good quality of wines and manages the quality control well. For this reason, it has been chosen by Japanese consumers.

"Mothers" wins Minsk festival award

Film "Mothers" of Milco Mancevski won award "Film as Artistic Phenomenon" at the Minsk film festival "Listapad", which is its fifth international award.
"I did not even know the film was in competition. It received enormous approval, I had lengthy talks with the audience and interviews", said director Mancevski.
"Mothers", a Macedonian-French-Bulgarian co-production, has been included among 20 films for the European Film Award.

Skopje observes its Liberation Day

Many cultural, humanitarian and sports events are to mark Sunday the Liberation Day - 13 November - of Macedonia's capital - Skopje.

On the occasion, the '13 November' award will be presented at the cinema 'Frosina' to this year laureates: PhD Nikita Sekutovski, Prof. Ljubinka Bosotova - education; Bojku Fejzi and Dimitar Masevski - art; Boris Pop Gjorcev - journalisam; Bosko Zaborski - sports; Aleksandar Janevski - humanitarian activities; Mico Popovski - business; the Center for Environmental Reaserch and Information 'Eco-Svest'; as well as students - Ivan Antovski, Tasko Smilevski and Aleksandar Stepanovski.

Early today, Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski met with a group of veterans, who fought for Skopje liberation in 1944.

Skopje in November 2011

State, diplomatic delegations are also set to lay fresh flowers on the monuments of Skopje Liberators, Partisan Cemetery and General 'Mihajlo Apostolski' monument.

The program also includes a Red Cross blood donation campaign and several sports events.

Skopje was liberated on 13 November 1944 by Yugoslav Partisan units of the Macedonian National Liberation Army. Soon after, Skopje became the capital of the newly established People's Republic of Macedonia within the Yugoslavia.

In 1963 the city suffered considerable damage from a major earthquake, which killed over 1,000 people. International financial aid poured into Skopje in order to help rebuild the city, which since then has been known as the 'City of Solidarity'.

PM Gruevski meets British businessmen in London

Nikola Gruevski

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski presented yesterday the opportunities for investing in Macedonia to British businessmen in London at an event organized by the British Business Group Macedonia, chaired by Ray Power, the Government said Saturday in a press release.

Traditionally good political relations between Macedonia and Britain, especially affirmed by London's support of Macedonia's EU, NATO integration processes, will also contribute to boosting the bilateral economic cooperation, Gruevski said at the presentation.

The Government, he said, has been working on improving the business climate and working conditions for both domestic and foreign companies in a stable macroeconomic environment.

In this respect Gruevski mentioned the World Bank Doing Business report, which for several years in a row has been ranking Macedonia among the best reformers and attractive business destinations.

Gruevski also referred to the technological industrial development zones and benefits they were offering. They have already welcomed the plants of British companies Johnson Controls and Johnson Metty. For the last four months there has been an intensive investment activity in these zones, namely Johnson Controls is opening yet another plant, while the Italian company 'TeknoHose', US 'Kemet Electronics', Russia's 'Protec Group'  and India's 'Motherson Group' have been working on the realization of their investments.

Prince Michael of Kent, who honored the presentaion with his presence, said he was fascinated by the opportunities for investing in Macedonia and urged British businessmen to learn more about them.

At a separate meeting Gruevski and Prince Michael of Kent shared opinions on possibilities for further development of the Macedonian-British cooperation.

Macedonian Culture Days' opens in Osijek

'Macedonian Culture Days', organised by the Macedonian Cultural Society Braca Miladinovci based in Osijek, opened at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek on Saturday evening with a play performed by the Anton Panov Theatre from Strumica.
The event, to last until December 1, includes an ethnological exhibition, documentary films, a presentation of a book by Vasil Tocinovski, and a concert of classical music.

Macedonia hosts Days of Ukrainian Culture

Ukrainian, Macedonian Deputy Culture Ministers Yuri Bogutsky and Dragan Nedeljkovic will have the honor Saturday to the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Macedonia.
The manifestation kicks off with the exhibition of art holograms 'Golden Treasury of Ukraine'. The event's program includes the presentation of Mykola Maschenko's and Valeriy Yamburskyy's films 'Bogdan Zinoviy Khmelnytsky' and 'The Day of Defeated' respectively, as well as a concert of the Ukrainian national folk dance ensemble Pavlo Virsky.
On Monday film fans in Skopje will also have an opportunity to see the film 'Platon Angel' - work of art of Ivan Voytyuk.

Skopje's Old Theater to be opened with play by Jordan Plevnes

Skopje, 11 November 2011 (MIA) - With the premiere of "Eternal House" - a play by Jordan Plevnes - Skopje's reconstructed Old Theatre will be formally opened in 2012, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska told a press conference on Friday.
Jordan Plevnes' text was selected at an open competition for a play which will formally open the Skopje Old Theatre. 13 plays were submitted at the 6-month competition announced by the Ministry of Culture.
The jury responsible for selecting the best play was comprised of academic Georgi Stardelov, academic Luan Starova, university professor Jelena Luzina, actor Petar Temelkovski and theater director Dejan Projkoski.
Jordan Plevnes is a prolific playwright and poet, whose works have been translated and published around the globe. He has been awarded with France's Order of the Knight of Arts and Literature.
"His text 'Eternal House' is based on the abstract and deeply humane notion of the house as an ideal home and focuses on the subject of constant affirmation of one's own identity," the minister said.

Kanceska-Milevska reports on Ministry of Culture's activities in 100 days of new government

The Ministry of Culture has been continuing to realize its program towards improving the cultural environment in Macedonia and affirming the country's best cultural values across the globe.
Reporting on the activities in the 100 days since the establishment of the new government, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said the ministry was functioning in line with clearly set goals--support and nourishment of the traditional and contemporary cultural values, investment in the infrastructure, restoration, conservation and promotion of the cultural heritage, archaeological researches...
Listing the realized projects, she mentioned the new Museum of Macedonian Struggle for Statehood and Independence, overhauling of the memorial house of Miladinovci Brothers in Struga, the Memorial Museum '11 Oktomvri' in Prilep, opening of the City Museum in Kriva Palanka.
In regard to publishing, she mentioned the promotion of 130 volumes of Macedonian Literature, translated in English.
Referring to cultural events, Kancevska-Milevska singled out the observance of the 50the anniversary of 'Struga Poetry Evenings'.Speaking about the international cooperation, Kanceska-Milevska said the 'Days of Macedonian Culture' were organized in Saint Petersburg and Tallinn - the European Capital of Culture 2011.
Furthermore, the Skopje-based National and University Library took part at Frankfurt Book Fair, Macedonia became a UNESCO Executive Board member and Tose Proeski Memorial House won the People's Choice Award.
The Ministry's future projects include a promotion of the new 'Old Theater', Philharmonic Hall, construction of a Film Center, digitization of the audio-visual cultural heritage.
The Ministry will also work on drafting several laws and a national strategy for cultural development, Kanceska-Milevska said.

Dutch Co. to Design new Skopje Railway Station

Dutch advisory firm Grontmij will design a project for a 2.6 million euro ($3.57 million) reconstruction of Skopje’s main railway station, Macedonia's transport ministry said on Tuesday.Grontmij will also prepare the tender documents for contractor and supervisor of the station's overhaul, the ministry said in a statement sent to MINA.

Macedonia Supporting Low Cost Airlines

Macedonian Government has decided to grant EUR 1,4 million in subventions to low-cost airlines and to that effect a procedure for amending the law on air traffic is already opened, Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakievski said Monday.
The aim is to attract more airlines to use the airports in Skopje and Ohrid, which are expected to introduce new destinations and cut the ticket prices, Janakieski said at the press conference on what his ministry has done for the 100 days since the making up of the new Government.
The ministry worked on realizing the program that won the trust of the electorate, namely resuming the reforms for better infrastructure, safe transport, inflow of new investments and higher living standard for the citizens of Macedonia, Janakieski said.
Listing the completed projects, he mentioned the reconstructed Skopje Airport 'Alexander the Great' - an EUR 100 million - investment of the Turkish 'TAV', construction of the highway 7,6 km-long section Tabanovce - Kumanovo - EUR 15,5 million, legalization of illegal buildings, procurement of new low-floor and double decker buses...

Tose Proeski Memorial wins People's Choice Award

Tose Proeski Memorial House.

The Memorial House of Macedonia's late pop star Tose Proeski, designed by the 'Syndicate Studio' is the winner of People's Choice Award - the building of 2011, launched this year within the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Barcelona.
Over 15,000 people voted on-line for the Proeski Memorial, which also won the majority of the jury votes.
The Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City and the 'Atmosphere' building in Kolkata won the second and third place.A total of 704 buildings, located across the globe, were competing for the award.
WAF is the world's largest, live, inclusive and interactive global architecture event and features the world's biggest architectural contest – The World Architectural Festival Awards.

Tram is Coming to Skopje

Decades-old idea about a tram in Skopje will be finally realized. The feasibility study has been carried out by consultants of Vialto.
The project has thus entered the second phase, which includes preparation of the tender documentation, which should be completed in January 2012.
Afterwards, a tender for a tram concessionaire will be invited. This procedure will last three or four months. This means that a concessionaire will be chosen already in May or June, announced Skopje mayor Koce Trajanovski.
Analyses show that the investment is profitable, with the possibility of the Town of Skopje and the Macedonian government participating in annual costs, Trajanovski said.

Macedonia Promises Bulgaria Progress on 'Corridor 8'

Macedonia's government has agreed with Bulgaria's that the still imaginary project for Pan-European Transport Corridor No. 8 is a priority, the Bulgarian Transport Ministry announced.
Macedonia's new promises to help launch at last the transport corridor have come at a meeting of Bulgaria's Deputy Transport Minister Kamen Kichev with his Macedonian counterpart Tehir Hani.
Pan-European Corridor No. 8 – a parallel linking the Bulgarian Black Sea ports to the Albanian Adriatic ports via Macedonia along and its extension to Italy, a supposedly vital chain in the proposed shortest route between East and Central Asia and Western Europe – has been talked about for years with grand expectations for boosting trade and development in the Balkans – but has seen little realization.

Probably the most important obstacle for the project is the lack of a railway connection between Bulgaria and Macedonia, with the Macedonian state balking at the construction of several dozen kilometers of line on its territory.
Bulgaria's Deputy Transport Minister Kichev has presented to the Macedonian government the transport road and railway section under construction and/or rehabilitation in Bulgaria that are part of the proposed route of Corridor 8, the Transport Ministry in Sofia said.
These include the Trakiya Highway and the Lyulin Highway; sections from the Sofia-Burgas railway and the Karnobat-Sindel railway; and the modernization of Port Varna and Port Burgas on the Black Sea.
"The project for the construction of the Sofia-Skopje railway is of strategic significance both because it would connect the railway networks of the two states, and because it would held for the completion of the Corridor 8 route," Kichev told his Macedonian counterpart.
He further said the Bulgarian government needs to construct only 2.5 km of railway from the village of Gyueshevo to the Macedonian border.
"We are ready to build it right now if the Republic of Macedonia starts constructing their section," Milcho Lambrev, Director-General of Bulgaria's National Company "Railway Infrastructure.
"The Bulgarian Transport Ministry further says that Macedonia's Ministry of Transport and Communication "is in an advanced phase of the feasibility study for the railway line from Kumanovo to Deve Bair", the missing railway section on Macedonian territory.
"We are optimistic that we will complete the railway in 5 years," the Macedonian Transport Ministry is quoted as saying.

Days of Macedonian Culture in Estonia

Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska -
Maceodnian minister of culture.

Opening of exhibition "Macedonian Folk Costumes and Embroideries" marks the beginning of event "Days of Macedonian Culture" in Tallinn on Thursday.
The display, set at the National Library of Estonia, is created by custodian Gordance Vidinic.
Days of Macedonian Culture in Tallinn are organized by the Ministry of Culture, aimed towards enhancing international cultural cooperation.
In this regard, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska is set to meet with Estonian colleague Rein Lang on Friday, as well as visit a number of cultural institutions in Tallinn.
Minister of culture, Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska will also open exhibition "In City", arranged by the Museum of Contemporary Arts, displaying artworks of modern Macedonian art.
Moreover, national ensemble of folk songs and dances "Tanec" will hold a concert in the prestigious "Nokia" hall.In addition, Macedonia's urban culture will be presented through the performance of Kiril Dzajkovski.

Macedonia's tourism potentials presented in Finland

The travel show organized by the Agency Promotion and Support of Tourism as part of the Government's activities for promotion of the country's tourism potentials was held late Tuesday in Finland capital Helsinki.
Ambassador Kire Ilievski thanked largest Finnish tour operator "Aurinkomatkat" and airline "Finnair" for the successful completion of ten charter flights in the course of the year, but also the team of "Ridman Production", which made a series of photos and videos presenting Macedonia's tourism potentials and cultural heritage.
Agency representatives also met with "Aurinkomatkat" officials, agreeing on a marketing strategy, including participation at tourism fair MATKA in Finland, for the purpose of attracting more tourists for the 2012 season.
Vice Premier for European Affairs Teuta Arifi, who paid a working visit to Finland yesterday, attended the promotion.Similar presentations were held in several Finnish cities in the course of October.

The Mysteries around Kokino

Kokino.

The crescent moon is seen over a rocky crest filled with astronomical stone markers at the ancient megalithic observatory of Kokino, Macedonia, back on 21 June 2009, the day of the Summer solstice. Kokino includes special stone markers used to track the movement of sun and moon on the eastern horizon.
Kokino was accidentally discovered by Macedonian archeologist Jovica Stankovski back in 2001.
The observatory used the method of stationary observation, marking positions of the sun at the winter and summer solstice, as well as the equinox. The ancient astronomic observatory, located about 80 km north-east of Skopje, dates back more than 4.000 years.
Kokino has been nominated to be included on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. The importance of the site was confirmed by US space agency NASA, which placed it on its list of ancient observatories.
A Kokino culture may have been found, after a network of 10 temples were discovered in the mountain peaks of the Kumanovo-Kratovo region, dating back to 20th-18th century BC. Stone drawings have also been discovered, especially those of the eagle (associated with storms), and turtles (symbol of country). At least ten figurine objects of humans and animals have been discovered. If Kokino is identified as an ancient civilization, it would be the oldest known in southern Europe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokino

Johnson Controls Starts moving machines in Shtip

Johnsons Controls will start moving machines to the premises in Makedonska Street in Stip in about ten days.
The company will also launch test production, informed Viktor Mizo, head of the Technological-Industrial Development Zone Bunardzik (TIRZ), at the government session. He announced employment of 300 people in the company as of early next year.
In November, equipment of Chinese company Haier is expected to be delivered to TIRZ. In the past few days, meetings with representatives of Haier were held and investment details discussed. All announced investments in Macedonia are progressing without any impediments.

Canadians Can Receive their Pensions in Macedonia

Approximately 200,000 emigrants in Canada are able to realize their rights of pension and disability insurance in line with the Macedonia-Canada social insurance agreement, which enters into force on Tuesday.
Minister of Labor and Social Policy Spiro Ristovski said at today's press conference that the agreement applies to all individuals who achieved insurance or residence periods taken into account when realizing the right of pension in Republic of Macedonia or Canada, in line with the countries' regulations. The accord regulates the calculation of insurance periods in both countries, thus enabling the individual to realize the right for pension.
"The agreement guarantees the payment of pension in the other contracting state, i.e. provides the opportunity for transfer of Canadian pensions in Macedonia, if the beneficiary returns to live in Macedonia", said Ristovski.
The agreement applies to all individuals who worked in both counties, as well as members of their families. The document includes the principle of equal actions towards individuals working at the territory of the other state.
"By the end of 2011, the Government will initiate the conclusion of social insurance agreements with Slovakia, France and New Zealand, alongside ongoing procedures with Italy and Albania. In the coming period, the Government will also work on concluding such agreements with Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates", said Minister Ristovski.Republic of Macedonia has concluded social insurance agreement with 18 countries - Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia&Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Montenegro, Australia and Canada - whereas such an agreement with Denmark is in the process of ratification.
"The application of the bilateral social insurance agreements has resulted in 35,000 citizens using pensions from another country. Approximately 13,000 Macedonian nationals use pensions from Germany, over 5,000 from Poland, 8,000 from Serbia, 2,000 from Switzerland, 2,000 from Croatia, 1,000 from Slovenia etc", underlined Ristovski.