EBRD supports modernisation of Macedonian branded food producer

The EBRD is continuing to support the development of the private sector in the Western Balkans with a €2.5 million loan to one of the leading branded food producers in Macedonia – Vitaminka, the EBRD's Resident Office in Skopje said on Wednesday.
Vitaminka is one of the largest agribusiness companies in Macedonia, producing a wide array of branded food products under its own name as well as for other private labels - chocolate confectionary, crisp snacks, powdered products and additives, ketchup, mayonnaise and soft cookies. The company exports over 40 per cent of its products, primarily to Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.
The proceeds of the EBRD loan will be used to finance the purchase of production and packaging equipment as well as for the implementation of modern energy efficiency measures at Vitaminka.
The project will enable Vitaminka to minimise operating costs and strengthen its competitiveness, as well as increase the production capacity for some of its most popular products.
"We are pleased to continue our cooperation with Vitaminka and to support the company’s development strategy and further growth. The new loan will help Vitaminka to increase the production volume of powdered drinks and crisp snacks, in order to meet the growing demand for these products and to improve its energy efficiency" said Elena Urumovska, Head of EBRD Skopje Resident Office.
"The EBRD financing will support our company’s development strategy for the coming years. Vitaminka’s objectives include expanding and modernising production capacities and product assortment, as well as raising energy efficiency standards in our company, improving productivity and working conditions in some of our production plants," said Simon Naumoski, President of the Management Board of Vitaminka.
In 2007 the EBRD provided a €4 million loan to Vitaminka to finance its investment programme that included procurement of the new production line for soft cookies and packaging equipment.
To date the EBRD has invested close to €950 million in the Macedonian economy through projects in the corporate, financial, infrastructure and energy sectors. The EBRD funds have attracted additional investments worth €1 billion from other sources.In the agribusiness sector alone, the EBRD has directly committed more than €7 billion in over 450 projects across central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States since 1991.

Organic Food Festival, Macedonia leader in organic production in the region

The organic food production becomes recognisable agricultural production and more accessible for the citizens, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ljupco Dimovski said at opening of the 1st Organic Food Festival under the motto "From nature to me" held Saturday at Macedonia Square in organisation of the City of Skopje and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and in cooperation with the Macedonian Organic Producers Federation. 

Dimovski said that continuous growth and development of organic production has been noted in the Republic of Macedonia. In 2010 the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management registered the biggest growth in this sector according to number of producers and according to certified production area.

Of 321 certified producers of organic food in 2009, their number reached 562 in 2010. The certified production area was increased by more than three times by only one year i.e. from 1.400ha in 2009 to 5.225ha in 2010, Dimovski said. 

The area for organic production of grain was increased by more than 2.300ha for only one year. Also large growth was registered in organic grape growing – from 60.4ha in 2009, the area of organic grape was increased by 244 ha in 2010.

In organic cattle breeding last year compared to 2009 the number of heads was increased by over 2.000. The record increase of number of organic sheep is from 22.000 to 100.000.

Organic producers were paid subsidies at amount of EUR 1,62 million in 2010 according to the Government’s Financial Support Programme. More than EUR 1.78 million is allocated from the budget for support of organic production for this year, Dimovski said.

Thirty organic food producers from the country and the region will be presented today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. providing tasty, natural organic food for tasting accompanied by live entertainment programme by music band "Mama band."

Festival’s goal is to emphasise the importance of natural, organic food for the health of current and future generations but also for maintenance of biodiversity.

'Macedonia Timeless - Food' Picks up Croatia Award

TV clip "Macedonia Timeless - Food" has received international award for "Impressive Presentation of Macedonia's Tourism Values" at the tourism film festival in Solin, Croatia.

This is the clip's second international award, which acknowledges the appropriate promotion of Macedonia's values as a tourism destination."Macedonia Timeless - Food", produced by agency "Republika", was also rewarded at the Budva international tourism festival, receiving the top gong for a TV clip.

www.macedonia-timeless.com

Burger King Coming to Macedonia

TAB Foods, the master franchisee operating over 500 chain restaurants in Turkey for Burger King, Popeye’s, Sbarro and Arby’s, is set to open several restaurants in Macedonia, MINA has learned. 

The first Burger King restaurant is set to open on August 30 at Skopje airport “Alexander the Great”. 

“We will open our first restaurant in Skopje Airport on Aug. 30, and three more Burger King restaurants will open in Macedonia before the end of the year,” said Caner Dikici, general manager of TAB Foods.

Macedonia Timeless - Food

New Macedonia Timeless video: Macedonian food.