Hello All,
This is a free forum and everybody from elsewhere is free to post topics and comments. We are not trying just to convince people to invest in Macedonia, we want people to know the country and then decide if they want to invest.

Hello,

We do not want to convince you that you are not right.

It is true that there is 30 % unemployment in Macedonia. It is true that the government is not the ideal one as well it is true that the country has many disputable issues. But as well it is true that Macedonia is trying to cover the requirements of the EU and enter the EU together with counties like Croatia.

In the last few years Macedonia have done a lot, having in mind the currently stable ethnic issue and the negotiations for entering NATO and EU. It is developing fast and right now the property investment market is one of the best for foreign investors. The Republic of Macedonia is the new investing heaven on the Balkans. It is on its way to the European Union and soon will be as desired destination as Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro. It is still gaining from the fact that the properties are relatively cheap as well as the living standard and the salaries are lower. This is the reason why recently many foreign investors are opening different kinds of businesses starting from supermarkets and ending up to big factories. I can give you just a few examples only from the year of 2007:

– The Dutch company Weighpack, Brako is based in Macedonia and is a regional leader in the production of wires and wire products;

– Croatia’s Agrokor, the region’s biggest investor, announced a total investment in Macedonia of €200 million. According to General Manager Ivica Todorovik, the company plans to build buyout centers for fruits and vegetables, develop a supermarket chain, as well as establish a processing factory for fruits and vegetables;

– The Telekom Austria Group through Mobilkom Austria just announced the commercial launch of VIP Operator as the third mobile communications provider in Macedonia;

– Johnson Matthey with a mega-factory in Macedonia;

– The CEO of Swedmilk Macedonia, a Swedish dairy plant started operations near Skopje, recommended investing in Macedonia to Swedish investors;

– Porsche Bank, part of the Salzburg-based Porsche Holding, will start with leasing operations in Macedonia by March 2008;

– ?-Mobile is the first mobile operator in Macedonia and a leader in the mobile market.

There are also many other foreign companies that already work with Macedonia and develop their business here:

–          Mittal Steel Skopje is of one the largest steel product manufacturers in the Balkans offering Hot Rolled Coils & Sheets, Hot Rolled (P&O), Coil Rolled Coils & Sheets, HDG and PPGI Coils;

–          QBE Insurance Group has a Macedonia-based branch from 8 years;

–          A Turkish investor opened a large trade centre Ramstore in Skopje

–          Cubbal – a big German investor bought a large number of shares from the biggest Factory for welded pipes and sections 11 Oktomvri, Kumanovo

For more information about this issue you can see: http://www.investinmacedonia.com.  
Macedonia has been ranked first in Europe and second worldwide regarding monetary freedom by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
The country has jumped to its current position from 20th worldwide and 7th in Europe in 2006, and as low as 70th worldwide in 2003. Monetary freedom and stability make investment, savings, and other longer-term plans easier to make. Inflation in Macedonia has averaged 2.3% in the period 2005-2007.
Starting from September 2007, a new company in Macedonia can be established in four hours, for less than 150 €. The Central Register offers technical assistance on the spot to eliminate the need for expensive legal fees.

Well, I think that this is pretty enough for a small country which has become independent just 17 years ago and which has just 2 million residents.

It is up to you to decide if Macedonia is worth investing.