Government opens investment zones across Macedonia

In an attempt to attract foreign investments, the Government at a session has reached a decision to establish new technological industrial zone in Strumica.

The zone, covering an area of 24.800 square meters, will be equipped with energy, telecommunications, water management systems, where an administrative building and a customs terminal will be also located, Government spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgiev told a press conference on Wednesday.

"The zone will be of great importance for the local economic development of the region of Strumica. After completing all procedures, activities to construct the zone will be launched in the first quarter of 2013," Gjorgiev said.

The Government in line with the action plan, he added, is carrying out procedures to open technological industrial zones in Kicevo, Tetovo, Prilep, Gevgelija, Rankovce, Struga and Radovis as well.

"The opening of these zones demonstrates the Government's clear commitment to attract investments across the whole state. It will bring fresh quality in the business life of these regions and aims at enabling conditions for balanced economic development, the spokesman said.

Tourists replace Ohrid with downtown Skopje

According to stats published by the Tourism Bureau the "Centar" municipality which encompasses downtown Skopje is the most visited town in Macedonia for the month of May.

Ohrid came in second. According to the stats, Centar for the month of may saw a 40% increase in foreign tourists in comparison to the same month in 2011. 

Skopje itself has also recorded an uptick in foreign visits. In 2009 111,281 foreign tourists visited the capital. In 2010, 114,663 and in 2011 130,726 foreign tourists visited Skopje. 

According to official stats, 80% of the tourists stayed in downtown.

This uptick in foreign tourists is attributed to the Skopje 2014 project.

2nd Fair of Transport and Logistics opens in Skopje

Overhaul and construction of new projects in road and rail infrastructure will contribute to improving the state of Macedonian transportation and logistic sector, anticipating the economy to be revived.

This was concluded Wednesday at the opening of the second International Fair of Transport and Logistics, which brings together over 30 representatives of transportation and logistic companies from Macedonia and the region.

Economy Minister Valon Saraqini said that transport and logistic were one of the key factors in boosting trade exchange and contributed to improving the business climate, instigating economic development and connecting global economic courses.

"The government will resume its efforts and activities to improve road infrastructure and create conditions to develop the transportation sector," Saraqini said opening the fair.

Regional maritime ports in Thessaloniki and Durres, MCS shipping company and Chinese Cosco shipping company through Thessaloniki port, Macedonian Railroads Transport Skopje, FEDEX, Fershped, and many other companies are going to be promoted at the fair.

The 2nd International Fair of Transport and Logistics runs till September 29.

EBRD awards companies with the best energy projects

"Evropa" - Skopje, "Kontihidroplast" - Gevgelija, "Kiro Dandaro" - Bitola and "Betasped" are some of the companies that invested in energy efficiency projects with EBRD funds. The WeBSEFF sustainable energy efficiency awards were presented Monday at a ceremony.

The business sector, the government and financial institutions concur that it is necessary and profitable to invest in energy efficiency.

Economy Minister Valon Saraqini said the awards showed that Macedonian companies were starting to invest in energy efficiency.

He noted that the government remained focused on improving energy efficiency and urging renewable energy sources to be used more since it was "a vital segment for the economy in the country."

EU Ambassador Aivo Orav stated that the energy efficiency of companies would not only cut down energy costs, but it would also improve their competitiveness.

EUR 12 million have been envisaged for energy efficiency projects in Macedonia through the WebSEFF (Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Financing Facility) programme.

WeBSEFF is a EUR 60 million credit line set up by the EBRD and available from local bank for investments that results in more sustainable energy use.

ONE marks 10. anniversary in Macedonia

Company ONE marked Friday a decade at the Macedonian market.

"Over the past 10 years, the company developed but also changed. Today, the company is successfully operating at the telecommunications market, representing a significant part of Macedonia's economy. I am convinced over the company's future, taking into account the human potential, experience, innovation and professionalism of employees", said ONE Chief Executive Director Ciril Kafol.

ONE is the company's name since 2009, merging Cosmofon, On.Net and Germanos. The company is a member of Telekom Slovenia Group, one of the most successful groups in SEE, with subsidiaries in Kosovo, Bosnia&Herzegovina and Albania, as well as 50-percent ownership in Gibraltar's national operator "Gibtelecom".

Milcho Manchevski awarded

President Gjorge Ivanov will present Tuesday "National Artist of Macedonia" award to film director Milcho Manchevski.

President Ivanov and Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska will address award ceremony.

"National Artist of Macedonia," the first such recognition in the country, was presented last year to pianist Simon Trpcheski.

Macedonian wine to be exported in China

Seven Macedonian wineries from the association "Wines from Macedonia" will export wines to the Chinese market. The wineries signed a contract with the Chinese importer and distributor "Tianjin".

Nearly 456 thousand bottles are planned to be exported in the first year. The contract is valued at one and a half million euros in the first year only. The export is planned to be kicked off in coming days.

"China is a destination which is aimed by wineries to achieve good results because traditional economies have been hit by recession and have been implementing austerity measures, whereas China is registering economic growth. At the moment, China is considered as a huge market with potential and this contract probably confirms it," the acting executive director of the "Wines from Macedonia" association, Gjorgi Petrusev told a press conference on Monday.

What lingers on as a challenge for the future, Petrusev said, is to change the perception of foreign consumers that Macedonia has solid cheap wine. "The challenge to promote ourselves and prove that high quality wines are produced in Macedonia still remains," he added.

The director of the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion, Visar Fida voiced content with the agreement. "The Chinese importer was visited during the government's road show in May in China. We are pleased that already there are results," Fida said.

Thus far, Macedonian wine was promoted in New York, Chicago, Washington and Finland, while presentations are scheduled to take place in Poland and the Netherlands next month.

Skopje Blues & Soul Festival 2012

Skopje Blues & Soul Festival 2012 organised by the Directorate of Culture and Arts will be held Tuesday evening in the Universal Hall.

Macedonian blues guitarist Igor Atanasovski with his band 'Guru Hare' and pianist Petar Lukic  as well as Marcus Malone Band (USA/UK) will perform Tuesday evening.

Ducks Can Groove band (Sweden) and Stan Skibby guitarist and his band will perform at the second festival night which will be a tribute to Jimi Hendrix.

State Archives to donate books to St. Jovan Bigorski monastery

The State Archives of the Republic of Macedonia will donate Friday a collection of books to the library in "St. Jovan Bigorski" monastery, which was burned down three years ago.

The book collection consists of monographs for famous persons of Macedonian history as well as documents which cover the most important phases and events in establishment of the Macedonian statehood, State Archives said in a press release.

Macedonia and Norway sign Transport Liberalization

Macedonia and Norway have agreed on liberalization of bilateral and transit transport for vehicles possessing Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards, following the signing of a protocol at the meeting of the mixed committee on international road transport, held in Oslo on September 12-13.

The protocol also refers to a contingent of 150 bilateral transit permits for Euro 3 vehicles, as well as 20 bilateral transit permits for Euro 2 vehicles and those with lower standards.

A contingent of permits for transport to and from third countries, which is by 125 percent higher compared to the previous quota, has also been agreed, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a press release.

The Third Half to represent Macedonia for the Oscars

Film "The Third Half" of Darko Mitrevski, produced by Kino Oko, will be Macedonia's Oscar candidate in the best Foreign Language Film category.

The Association of Film Professionals of Macedonia, which is authorized by the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to carry out the selection, has announced that the competition also included "The Woman Who Brushed Off Her Tears" of Teona Strugar Mitevska, produced by Sisters and Brother Mitevski, and "Skopje Remixed" by group of directors, produced by Novo Makedonsko Video.

French actress Catherine Deneuve to attend 33. Manaki Brothers festival

French actress Catherine Deneuve will be an exclusive guest at the 33. International Cinematographers Film Festival "Manaki Brothers", held in Bitola on September 15-21.

Deneuve is the laureate of special award "Golden Camera 300", which will be presented at the festival's opening.

Manaki Brothers festival director Labina Mitevska said at Monday's press conference that Deneuve would stay in Macedonia for four days.

"Deneuve will hold an hour-long meeting with film lovers, journalists, students, authors on September 16, followed by the screening of film 'The Last Metro' in her honor", added Mitevska.

Catherine Deneuve has starred in 114 films. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in "Indochine" and won a César award for that film and "The Last Metro" (1980)

Foreign tourists satisfied with their stay in Ohrid

Ohrid lake at Kaneo.

Foreign tourists are content with their stay in Ohrid, show results of a survey conducted by the Sector for Tourism and Local Economic Development of the Municipality of Ohrid.

The survey was carried out between August 15 and September 10 through open and anonymous questionnaires, which were distributed to hotels on the Ohrid riviera.

Guests who stayed in hotels 'Tino', 'Millennium', 'Garden', 'Inex', 'Belvedere', 'Granit', 'Sileks', 'Metropol', 'Bellevue', 'Desaret' and 'Makpetrol' - most of them from the Netherlands, Belgium and Serbia - praised the hospitality of Macedonian hosts and the attractiveness of the offer, pointing out several shortcomings and presenting their own suggestions.

The survey aims at probing guests' opinion and analysing their remarks in a bid to improve next year's tourist season.

Over 60.000 citizens to mark Independence Day at spectacular concert

The 21-year anniversary of country's independence will be marked Saturday evening at Philip II of Macedonian National Arena in Skopje with a spectacular concert dubbed 'Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8', where local and Balkan pop stars will sing covers of traditional Macedonian songs.

Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska at a press conference ahead of the event expressed profound gratitude to the Macedonian musicians who perform Macedonian folk songs and to the Balkan artists who this evening will sing one of the most beautiful songs of country's folklore richness in Macedonian.

One of the biggest music spectacles since Macedonia's independence declaration will be held later in the day, according to organisers.

Croatian diva Tereza Kesovija, on behalf of all 25 performers, said that the concert "will be always remembered for uniting the nation and music from the region and as a concert that brings together the musical history of the Balkans and beyond in honor of Macedonia".

Igor Durlovski's performance of the national anthem will open the concert. Spectators will have an opportunity to enjoy the performances of the greatest Balkan singers: Josipa Lisac, Zeljko Bebek, Hari Varesanovic, Aleksandra Radovic, Boris Novkovic, Nina Badric, Tereza Kesovija, Dado Topic, Aki Rahimovski, Goran Karan, Sergej Cetkovic, Jelena Tomasevic, Antonija Sola, Kaliopi Bukle, Esma Redzepova, Karolina Goceva, Miki Jovanovski Dzafer, Risto Samardziev, Vlatko Lozanovski, Vlado Janevski and Oliver Mandic.

At the press conference, the stars congratulated Macedonia on its Independence Day saying it is an honor for them to be part of this grand project.

Happy Independence day from Google

Using the Ohrid motives and St Kaneo church, Google sends their congratulations for Macedonia's independence day.

Macedonian exporters and Montenegrin importers of fruits and vegetables to meet

Montenegrin importers and Macedonian exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables will meet Monday in Strumica to discuss Montenegrin market demands and production and opportunities for export from Macedonia.

Epi Centre International and Macedonian Farmers’ Federation organise the meeting with support of USAID AgBiz programme and should contribute to improvement of overall presentation on Montenegrin market and creation of partnership relations between agriculture business between the two countries.

USAID AgBiz programme supports economic growth in Macedonia through activities that strengthen and improve competitiveness of Macedonian agribusiness. The aim is to increase incomes for all participants in selected agricultural value chains in Macedonia by increasing exports and enhancing the agricultural business environment.

The American people, through USAID, have invested nearly $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is implementing projects that create jobs, reduce corruption, and prepare Macedonian students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy.

Macedonian flag raised in Downtown Toronto marking Independence Day

On the eve of the biggest Macedonian national holiday, Independence Day (Sept. 8),  Macedonia's flag was raised in Downtown Toronto in Queen's Park outside the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The flag was raised by world-renowned artist Georgi Danevski in the presence of hundreds of Macedonians and foreign guests, friends of Macedonia and the Macedonian people in Canada. The flag-raising ceremony was organised by the Macedonian consulate general in Toronto.

Guests were welcomed by consul general Dragan Gjurcevski and the president of the oldest organisation of Macedonians in Canada - United Macedonians based in Toronto.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford as well as a number of associations and individuals congratulated the Independence Day of Macedonia.

Government team presented Macedonia’s business opportunities in Miami

Government delegation led by PM Nikola Gruevski resumes political and business visit to the US with a presentation of Macedonia's investment opportunities in Miami.

Here in Miami we held a business presentation before numerous companies. We have presented opportunities for doing business in Macedonia and with some of them we held separate meetings and discussed concrete projects. We also held talks with a car company and other companies with which we will continue the communication aimed at attracting them to open companies, factories and new jobs in Macedonia, PM Gruevski said.

He is satisfied from the road shows and believes that contacts and meetings will be fruitful for opening new jobs in Macedonia.

In Detroit, Gruevski and the government delegation will attend an annual meeting of the diaspora. In Atlanta, Macedonia's investment opportunities will be presented at a business event organised in cooperation with the city's business community.