National.

Macedonia will launch a media campaign in 35 mostly EU countries aimed at attracting foreign investment to the impoverished Balkan nation, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said.

The campaign would promote the advantages of investing in the country, including company-friendly tax policies, a simple company registration procedure, and low inflation, Gruevski told local reporters.

Dubbed "Invest in Macedonia -- A New Business Paradise in Europe," the campaign would also highlight the fact that the country is now part of the Balkan free trade zone, giving companies access to 650 million consumers.

"Macedonia has EU candidate status, and we expect this campaign will attract the interest of foreign investors to invest their money in our country," the premier said, adding he expected the campaign to boost employment.

Macedonia has a jobless rate of 35 percent, one of the highest in the region.

However the government of Gruevski, an economist who came to power in mid-2006, forecasts gross domestic product growth of 6.0 percent this year, up from last year's 3.5 percent.

MD: That's nice, hopefully it will help a bit, because foreign investments in Macedonia are very low

[biz.yahoo]

Posted by Macedonia Daily on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 12:21 am | Permalink