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.

PM Gruevski visits Tetovo's flooded area

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski visited Sunday the flooded area, Tetovo's Raotince village, where in the past couple of days the river Vardar spilled out of its banks, inundating about 30 houses and 200 hectares of cultivable soil along the river.
The PM together with Agriculture Minister Ljupco Dimovski and the directors of the Crisis Management Center and the Protection and Rescue Directorate visited Raotince residents to oversee the situation and determine whether the Government is able to provide assistance. After meeting with residents, Gruevski said yesterday was the most critical day, adding that the water has receded. - This is not happening for the first time. Inundations have emerged before.
Evidently, this region is critical and a long-term solution must be found, PM Gruevski stated. He vowed to review the project envisaging overhaul and arrangement of the Vardar river bank 7 kilometers lengthwise. The village of Raotnice has been facing this problem for over 30 years. A project to overhaul the river bank has been made back in 1974 and it was renewed in 2005, but it remains unfinished. The situation in Raotnice today is back to normal, the water has receded into the river bank.

Croatian PM to visit Macedonia

Croatia's Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor will visit Macedonia on Tuesday, after receiving an invitation by her counterpart Macedonia's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. "Croatia's PM is scheduled to meet government officials and will participate at the Macedonian-Croatian economic forum", Croatian government said. Kosor will also meet with Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov and President of Parliament Trajko Veljanovski.