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GOVERNMENT TEAM PRESENTS
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTRIA
Government team, led by Vice Premier Zoran Stavreski presented Wednesday in
Vienna Macedonia's story as a successful business destination before
representatives of largest Austrian companies, MIA reports.
Vice Premier Stavreski referred to prior reforms, which have contributed to
the largest GDP growth, project regulatory guillotine, as well as other
favorable conditions offered to foreign investors in Macedonia.
"Accelerated tempo in the implementation of economic reforms and the process
of Macedonia's EU and NATO integration gives a clear signal to foreign
investors on the political and economic stability in the country", stressed
Stavreski.
He enumerated series of favorable conditions for investment, stable fiscal
policy, flat tax, four free economic zones, educated and qualified labor,
CEFTA agreements, strengthening of institutional quality, functioning of
market economy, which are some of the reasons why Macedonia is a good
investment destination.
Finance Minister Trajko Slaveski presented Macedonia's good macroeconomic
positions, as well as growth of foreign investments.
"Macroeconomic indicators remain exceptional, 2007 will finish with a 2-3
percent inflation, along with a low Budget deficit under one percent of the
GDP, which makes the country investment-friendly", stated Minister Slaveski.
Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski presented
possibilities for investments in infrastructure, such as transport
corridors, airports, hotels, real estate and telecommunications.
Janakieski acquainted the Austrian businessmen with the construction
activities of Corridors 8 and 10, as well as the facilitated procedure for
acquiring construction documents, but also announced the tender for building
a hotel complex and a mall in Ohrid.
Referring to concrete investment possibilities in the energy sector, Economy
Minister Vera Rafajlovska underlined trans-Balkan oil pipeline AMBO, passing
through Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania, valued at about US$ 1,2 billion.
Minister Rafajlovska also presented Government's activities in the energy
sector, including projects involving other types of renewable sources - use
of solar energy, geothermal waters, use of bio-fuels and assessment of
opportunities for use of wind energy.
Moreover, Rafajlovska promoted Macedonia's tourist potentials and
possibilities for development of rural and mountain tourism, urging Austrian
businessmen to visit "the cradle of culture - the pearl of nature" and
invest in the country.
Director of Agency for Foreign Investments Viktor Mizo focused on the four
free economic zones, explaining privileges for foreign investors.
Secretary-General of the Federation of Austrian Industry Markus Beyrer, who
opened the presentation, stated that positive business climate should
further encourage investors, guaranteed by Macedonia's EU candidate status,
as well as harmonized legislation with the Austrian one.
The Macedonian ministers are scheduled to meet with their Austrian
colleagues during the day.
MEPS: MACEDONIA'S EU
INTEGRATION REQUIRES WIDE POLITICAL CONSENSUS
Macedonia must prove itself in the near future if it wants to acquire a date
for beginning of EU accession talks in the first half of 2008, while
political forces must unite for fulfillment of that goal, European
Parliament members (MEPs) Jelko Kacin and Doris Pack told Wednesday
Macedonian journalists in Strasbourg.
"When we talk about EU integration, we refer to the country, not the ruling
coalition or the opposition. They must understand they can reach this
objective together. Roadblocks and childish behavior will lead to nothing",
said Slovenian MEP Kacin, who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
German MEP Doris Pack, who chairs the European Parliament delegation for
cooperation with SEE countries, says that Macedonia has done a lot on its
road towards EU, but a lot of work remains ahead.
"I am not always certain that the objective of political parties in
Macedonia is country's EU accession, but to win or keep power.
Euro-integration is impossible without EU being the main goal and until
political parties unite in order to fulfil it", said Pack.
Unlike Pack, who believes that determination of a date should not be a
priority, Kacin stressed that Macedonia should start the accession talks
process as soon as possible.
"I think that Macedonia should begin this process, not because of itself,
but because of the region's stability and progress. Principles reached in
Macedonia talks would be repeated in the case of Kosovo, when the time
comes, but it will also have effect on Albania and other SEE states",
emphasized Kacin, whose country will take over the six-month EU Presidency
on January 1, 2008.
He claims that principle "regatta" should be applied in the region, which is
currently comprised of Croatia only.
"However, Macedonia should join, thus creating positive competition", added
Kacin.
Still, certain things overshadow Macedonia's image, such as Tuesday's
incident in the Macedonian Parliament.
"I am surprised and sad because of the incident, and I believe it is not a
step in the right direction", stressed MEP Jelko Kacin.
According to Doris Pack, the incident should not be blown out of proportion,
because similar things happen in other parliaments.
"Macedonia should carry out a consistent implementation of the EU
Stabilization and Association Agreement, as well as the Ohrid Agreement, as
it is written - no more, no less", she underlined.
28TH INTERNATIONAL
CINEMATOGRAPHERS FESTIVAL "MANAKI BROTHERS" STARTS
The 28th International Cinematographers Festival "Manaki Brothers" started
Tuesday evening at the grand hall of Bitola's Culture Center.
At the opening ceremony, Life Achievement Golden Camera 300 Award was
presented to Russian cinematographer Anatoly Petritsky by Robert Naskov,
president of Festival's Council.
- Thank you all for bringing me to Bitola. The camera makes my life go on. I
know that Bitola is a very old town and I fell in love with it as an old man
is in love with an old woman, said cinematographer of famous movie "War and
Peace" Petritsky in his speech before the Macedonian audience.
Festival was declared open by the winner of the Special Golden Camera 300
Award for exceptional contribution in the world film art, Croatian Branko
Lustig.
- When I told my Zagreb friends that I am going to Bitola, they all said,
"Oh yeah, Bitola, my home town". I have been in Bitola and in Macedonia for
many times. First time was during the time of the earthquake in Skopje. I
won the presigious "Golden Lion" Award at the Venice Film Festival for the
documenatry "Skopje '63". After that I have been filming with Peter Ustinov,
and recently we've shot even a scene for the "Peacemaker" movie, said Branko
Lustig at Tuesday evening ceremony and declared the Bitola Festival open.
Festival officially started with the showing of Macedonian premiere of
"Upside Down", directed by Igor Ivanov - Izi, cinematography by Tomi
Salkovski.
Argentinean film "The Other", directed by Ariel Rotter was shown within the
midnight programme session. |
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NEWS
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TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL:
MACEDONIA 84TH IN CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX
Macedonia is ranked 84th with 3.3 index points, placed in the first half of
the "Corruption Perception Index" for 2007, released Wednesday at the
website of "Transparency International". Thus, Macedonia improves its
position by 20 spots compared to 2006.
Denmark shares top spot with Finland and New Zealand with 9.4 index points
as least corrupt countries worldwide, while Somalia and Myanmar share last
spot with 1.4 index points.
Slagjana Taseva, chairman of "Transparency-Zero Corruption", a
contact-member of "Transparency International" for Macedonia, informed at
Wednesday's press conference that this year's report is most comprehensive
thus far, encompassing 180 countries and territories, based on results of 14
different surveys on the state of corruption perception in administration
and politics.
According to the Report, the divide in perceived levels of corruption in
rich and poor countries remains as sharp as ever. Developed and developing
countries must share responsibility for reducing corruption, in tackling
both the supply and demand sides.
"Despite certain gains, corruption remains the basis for corruption, poor
development in countries with low profit at a national level", said Taseva.
Regarding Macedonia's move, Taseva stressed this comes not as a result of
the 30 new countries included in the survey, but to the increase of index
points from 2.7 to 3.3.
"The fact that we have managed to show certain progress means that people
polled domestically and abroad have demonstrated larger confidence, i.e.
that the corruption problem is improving. I would not say that we are that
good, but this is an exceptionally large progress for us, having an
exceptional importance, because this is a reference index used by those who
want to acquire an information about the country when deciding on any type
of cooperation. This will result in many positive implications regarding the
economy's development, confidence in state institutions", underlined Taseva.
The research on Macedonia used results from six surveys by world-renowned
agencies, five of which implemented in 2007, and one in 2006.
Pertaining to regional countries, Croatia and Bulgaria share 64th spot with
4.1 index points, Serbia is 79th with 3.4, Bosnia & Herzegovina shares 84th
spot with Macedonia, while Albania is 106th with 2.9 index points. |
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