Gruevski-Miller: Macedonia-part of Gazprom's development plans

Russian energy giant Gazprom is interested in cooperating with Macedonia, which is already part of the company's development plans, Gazprom President Aleksey Miller said Wednesday at a meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

Gazprom is also interested to review possibilities for other future investments in Macedonia, Miller said.

Gruevski and Miller discussed on the further realization of the South Stream project and concrete steps for its setting into operation, the Government said in a press release.

On July 23, Macedonia signed an agreement with the Russian Federation on cooperation in the construction of an offshoot of the South Stream gas pipeline in a bid to provide long-term gas supply in the country.

Construction works for South Stream have been already launched and the project is expected to be completed in 2018.

Macedonia opens new Tech Development Zone in Štip

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, TIDZ Director Viktor Mizo and Stip Mayor Ilco Zahariev opened Friday in Stip a new technological-industrial development zone (TIDZ).

A lot has been done since the 2010 cornerstone-laying ceremony for the TIDZ Stip, which is now ready to welcome all potential investors from this region, Gruevski said at the opening ceremony.

He expressed belief that very soon many factories would be erected in the zone, which means a lot of new jobs and substantial contribution to the development of eastern Macedonia.

US "Johnson Controls" has already broken the ice in TIDZ Stip, choosing the zone as a location for its second plant in Macedonia.

TIDZ Stip has road connections to Skopje and Kocani through M5 interstate and connections with the planned cargo airport in Stip through M6 interstate. The national rail station is 2.5 km away from the location and the nearest international airport Alexander the Great in Skopje is 75 km away. The nearest sea port - the one in Solun - is 225 km away from TIDZ Stip.

In addition to the TIDZs in Skopje (1 and 2) and in Stip and Tetovo, technological development zones are also planned in Strumica, Radovis, Delcevo Vinica, Berovo, Prilep, Kicevo, Gevgelija...

By this project the Government's is planning to cover all regions in Macedonia it believes will attract new investments, Gruevski said.

Macedonia's turnover industry rises

Macedonia's turnover index in industry in the period between January and June 2013, compared to the same period last year, rose by 6.9%. In June 2013 in comparison with June 2012, the index of industry turnover increased by 14.9%, the State Statistical Office said on Thursday.

The index of domestic turnover in industry in June 2013, in comparison with June 2012, decreased by 6.3%, and the index of  non-domestic turnover in industry increased by 27.7%.

The turnover index in industry in the section mining and quarrying in June 2013, in comparison with June 2012, was at the same level, while it increased by 15.8% in the section manufacturing industry.

The turnover index by Main Industrial Groupings in June 2013, in comparison with June 2012, was higher in Energy by 53.4%, Intermediate goods industries, except energy by 1.9%, Capital goods industries by 67.2% and Non-durable consumer goods industries by 9.9%, but lower in Durable consumer goods industries by 19.6%.

June's turnover in industry compared to May 2013 dropped by 5.1%.

Globex builds first facility at Cojlija industrial zone

A ceremony on Wednesday marked the start of construction of the first facility at the multifunctional industrial zone Cojlija - a logistics center which is an investment by the company Globeks DOO Skopje. 

"One million euros will be invested in the logistics center and initially 30 new jobs are set to be opened, out of the planned 360 employments," Minister of Transportation and Communications Mile Janakieski said at the ground-breaking ceremony.

The facility is being built on an area of 7,000 square meters and is supposed to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

65 lots in Cojlija industrial zone - the biggest in Macedonia - have been sold so far and cornerstones for some of the planned investments are expected to be laid in due time, according to Janakieski.

"It is expected Cojlija in two to three years' time to be turned into a real construction site and an industrial zone where thousands of people from the municipality of Petrovec and its region will be employed," the minister stressed.

The government, he added, in cooperation with the municipalities is continuously conducting activities to urbanize as much lots as possible for construction of industrial centers and to offer favourable prices and services to companies.

The company's owner, Snezana Kokra said that the logistics center and Globeks' daughter firm Global Logistics will be included in the area employing 350 people.

Macedonia industrial production rises 4.2%

Macedonia's industrial production rose 4.2% in March in comparison with the same month in 2011, the State Statistical Office said on Monday.

Statistical data show that industrial production in the section mining and quarrying in March 2013, in comparison with March 2012, increased by 8.2%. In the section manufacturing industry it increased by 0.9% and in the section electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply it increased by 20.6%.

Industrial production by Main Industrial Groupings in March 2013, in comparison with March 2012, was higher in energy by 16.2%, capital goods industries by 36.1%, durable consumer goods industries by 26.9% and non-durable consumer goods industries by 13.6%, but was lower in intermediate goods industries, except energy by 18.5%.

A 2.7% increase was also registered in industrial production in the period between January and March 2013, in comparison with the same period last year.

Mak Government Keeps Name of Major Investor Secret

A Car Factory will be built in the region between Veles and Kavadarci, which will employ 4,000 people.
This was announced today by PM Gruevski during his visit to the University for Mechanical Engineering in Skopje.
- They have yet to chose their location, however have already made a decision to invest and registered their company in Macedonia. According to their analysis, they will employ 4,000 people in the next two years. I don't believe we have a private or state firm that employs 4,000 people, said PM Gruevski.
According to the PM, the company will hire 300-400 people by the end of the year, while the rest will come in the next year.- Where exactly they will build is solely their decision. As of this time we can't make the name of this company public, except that they are a major German company in the Auto sector.

Indian Company Building Two Plants in Macedonia

Indian Samvardhana Motherson Group (SMG) will lay Wednesday a cornerstone for construction of two plants at the Technological and Industrial Development Zone Skopje 1.

Earlier, a memorandum of understanding and agreements for lease of land and for allocating state aid with regard to the two investments are set to be signed with the company.

The memo of understanding will be signed by SMG chairman Vivek Chaand Sehgal and Viktor Mizo - director of the Macedonian Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion.

PM Nikola Gruevski, who is expected to meet with representatives of the Indian company, will also attend the signing of the contracts and the cornerstone laying ceremony.

Macedonian Industrial Output up 20%

Macedonia’s industrial output increased 20% in December 2009 compared with the same month last year, State Statistical Office said on Wednesday.
The rise in industrial output was recorded in the sectors: recycling, production of metal goods, production of basic metals etc. A more serious drop was recorded in the sectors: furniture production, vehicle production, publishing, printing and reproduction.
Due to the increase of the industrial output in December, the cumulative drop of the industrial output index has decreased to 7.7 for 2009.
A year ago, the industrial output went down. The first increase of 4.3% was registered in November of 2009. The drop of the industrial output was the key factor for GDP drop and therefore helped Macedonia to come out of recession.