1. INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Zorica Apostolska, Minister for Foreign Investments
Zagreb, 4-7 December 2018

2. An outstanding business environment
# 1 IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE
(# 10 IN THE WORLD)
BY “EASE OF DOING BUINESS”
World Bank’s
Doing Business 2019 Report
#1 IN EUROPE IN EASE OF STARTING A BUSINESS
World Bank’s
Doing Business 2016, 2017 Reports
#7 IN THE WORLD
IN PROTECTING INVESTORS
Doing Business 2019 Report
#1 COST EFFECTIVENESS DESTINATION IN EUROPE
European Cities and Regions
of the Future 2016/17
#1 IN THE WORLD WITH LOWEST TOTAL TAX RATE LEVEL
PWC and World Bank Group 2014 Study
FASTEST GROWTH IN EUROPE BY FDI JOBS CREATED IN 2014
EY’s attractiveness survey
Europe 2015
#5 BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO START A BUSINESS
CNN’s Going Global edition 2

3. One of the best business environment in the world
EASE OF DOING BUSINESS 2019,
IFC & THE WORLD BANK GLOBAL RANKINGS
#10 in the World
#4 in Europe
#1 in Eastern Europe
Criteria includes: Starting a business, protecting investors, getting a construction permit, enforcing contracts, getting credit, cross-border trading, getting electricity, registering a property, paying taxes etc. 3

4. Educational system and workforce supply
Map of technical universities and technical high-schools in Macedonia
High intellectual capital:
More than 90% of high school graduates in academic year /17 enrolled in universities
Multiple vocational high schools in each city
PC for each student in primary and middle schools
Full scholarships for each student enrolled in a top 100 university in the world
€24 mil investment for 80 new laboratories in all Universities
Engineering studies are widely spread across the country
Tailor-made curriculums and training programs through Vocational Schools or Universities

6. Government Plan for Economic Growth - Financial support scheme for investments
Pillar
Programme
Benefits
SUPPORT FOR INVESTMENTS
1.1
Creation of new sustainable jobs
20% refund of the net salaries, up to €4,400 per person per annum
1.2
Cooperation with domestic suppliers
1% refund of the total annual purchases
1.3
Research and development centres (R&D)
50% refund of the expenses connected to the R&D centre, up to €1mil
1.4
Investments of significant economic interest to Macedonia
50% refund of the total investments costs
(fiscal benefits and cash grants)
1.5
Increase of CAPEX and revenues
10% refund of all capital investments, up to €1mil
1.6
Acquisition of companies in financial difficulties
10% refund of the acquisition transaction, up to €1mil
SUPPORT FOR COMPETI-TIVENESS
2.1
Increase of the competitiveness for entering new markets
10% refund of all capital investments, up to €1mil (in addition to programme 1.5)
2.2
Entering new markets and increase of revenues
20% refund of the expense connected to the process of entering new markets

7. Unparalleled Government Support
PRE - INVESTMENT PHASE
DECISION AND INVESTMENT
OPERATIONAL PHASE AND AFTERCARE
Support with business opportunity analysis and costs analysis
Identification of project specific location factors
Identification of supplier base
Organisation of meetings with state and local authorities, legal advisors, foreign investors already present in Macedonia
Site visit organisation
Final office space/site decision support
Information and data packs
Management of all formalities
Support in establishing local entities
Facilitation of dialogue with all domestics counterparts
Ongoing dialogue and access to top government
Support with the recruitment process
Facilitation of communication with potential business partners
Universities linkages
Coordination and support in contact with state and local authorities, recruitment agencies

8. Examples of companies already present in Macedonia8

9. Connections, Culture and Lifestyle
Brand New Int’l Airports in capital Skopje and Ohrid
- €120M+ investment from TAV
Summer and winter sports
4 national parks
Lakes, several ski-centers
World Economic Forum -
Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013
"Attitude of population toward foreign visitors"
MACEDONIA –
4th most friendly country in the world
5 International Schools with large mix of ex-pats
International cultural events:
- Ohrid Summer Festival
- Struga Poetry Evenings
- Skopje Jazz Festival
- May Opera Evenings
Largest wine producer in the region
- 78 wineries in Macedonia
- “Wine Road” travel programs

10. Macedonia – Host of World Congress of Entrepreneurs 2019