Arch "Macedonia" to open first in 2012

Arch "Macedonia" is the first structure to be promoted by the Ministry of Culture in 2012, reportedly in January.

Motifs from Macedonian history and tradition are included in the facade of the arch, designed by Valentina Stevanovska - the same artist who designed the monument "Warrior on a Horseback" at the Macedonian square.

The arch is part of the Ministry's project of erecting 35 sculptures in Skopje's downtown. The three willows in river Vardar will be unveiled by February, thus encircling the entire project.

The Old Skopje Theatre is expected to open in the second half of the year. Construction operations will develop depending on the winter's severity. There are intensive activities in all stages of the theatre's construction.

The Veles Theatre and the Macedonian Philharmonic concert hall are expected to be opened in 2013.

Macedonia's trade exchange with Middle East, Maghreb countries without strategy

Macedonia's foreign trade exchange with countries in the Middle East and Maghreb is occurring incidentally, without a general strategy. Companies' attempts to bolster it are still hampered by unestablished preferential trade, visa regime, complex and expensive procedure for document verification and the lack of diplomatic and consular offices. Modest bilateral regulation is also seen as a problem, it was concluded at a news conference Monday at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia.
Country's total exchange with Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Morocco, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia and Libya in the period between January and October 2011 stood at 50.7 million US dollars, out of which $15.6 million were accumulated by export and 34.9 million by import. Trade deficit is $19.3 million, while import-export coverage is 44.4%.
Ljubica Nuri of the Economic Chamber said that the Arab Spring did not significantly affect trade exchange, which was boosted with Algeria and Tunisia, but hugely reduced with Libya.
Macedonia in Middle East and Maghreb countries primarily exports agricultural and food products (33.3%) and iron and steel products (39.1%). The import balance includes household products, electronic devices and equipment (26.6%), construction materials (19.8%), petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (12.9%) as well as agricultural and food produces (7.7%)."
Macedonian companies can increase their competitiveness on markets in the Middle East with Halal certification not only of products, but also of services," Nuri stated.Economic Chamber data suggest that this year a foreign-trade surplus has been realised with Iraq, Lebanon, UAE, Bahrain, Yemen and Tunisia, while trade deficit has occurred with Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Israel, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Number of Air Passengers Increases in Skopje and Ohrid

In October, the number of passengers on airports in Macedonia increased in comparison with the same period last year.
According to the data published by the Macedonian Ministry of Transport a few days ago, the number of passengers on the Skopje and Ohrid airports reached 57,512, compared to 50,541 passengers last year.
The increase is a result of the increased number of passengers on the Skopje airport, which reported 56,180 passengers, which represents an increase of 17.1 percent. The number of regular flight lines grew as well, by 15.4 percent. In October, there were 689 regular lines compared to 597 lines last year.

Macedonia's tourism potentials presented in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Macedonia's tourism potentials and Macedonian wines were presented Tuesday before Dutch tour-operators in Amsterdam.
The promotion, hosted by Macedonian Ambassador to the Netherlands Nikola Dimitrov, was attended by 30 tour-operators that are already offering Macedonia as a tourism destination, but also ones showing potential interest.
"The Netherlands is one of our main target markets. Until 2010, Karatanova Tours was in charge of the Dutch market, but following the introduction of the subsidy programme, other tour-operators have shown interest, arranging charter-flights to Macedonia, even from Belgium", said Jordan Trajkov, director of the Agency for Support and Promotion of Tourism.
Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov said there is a realistic chance that offer for Dutch tourists increases in 2012.The Amsterdam event was supported by Dutch governmental agency "Holland Gateway".

Number of Foreign Tourists in Macedonia keeps Increasing

In October 2011, the number of tourists in Macedonia amounted to 49,379 and the number of bed-nights reached 119,198, informed the Macedonian State Statistical Office.
These figures show that the number of tourists increased by 17 percent and the number of bed-nights by 24.1 percent compared to October last year.In the same period, the number of Macedonian tourists dropped by 5.8 percent, while the number of foreign tourists increased by 35.2 percent.
Year-on-year, the number of bed-nights of Macedonian tourists increased by 6.1 percent despite the decrease of the number of tourists, and the number of bed-nights of foreign tourists grew by 41.2 percent. Analyses on what this really means for the state budget will be published in a week.

Macedonia has a Trade Surplus with Belgium

Belgium is one of rare countries with which Macedonia generates trade surplus.
According to the latest statistical data, the surplus amounted to USD 50 million in 2010 and USD 14 million in the first nine months of this year.
In terms of the total trade with the EU, trade with Belgium accounts for 4 percent. According to the Macedonian State Statistical Office, Macedonia exports tobacco, vegetables, ferronickel, textile products and sugar to Belgium.
On the other hand, motor vehicles, oils, iron, steel and plastic products are imported from Belgium.

PM Gruevski meets British businessmen in London

Nikola Gruevski

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski presented yesterday the opportunities for investing in Macedonia to British businessmen in London at an event organized by the British Business Group Macedonia, chaired by Ray Power, the Government said Saturday in a press release.

Traditionally good political relations between Macedonia and Britain, especially affirmed by London's support of Macedonia's EU, NATO integration processes, will also contribute to boosting the bilateral economic cooperation, Gruevski said at the presentation.

The Government, he said, has been working on improving the business climate and working conditions for both domestic and foreign companies in a stable macroeconomic environment.

In this respect Gruevski mentioned the World Bank Doing Business report, which for several years in a row has been ranking Macedonia among the best reformers and attractive business destinations.

Gruevski also referred to the technological industrial development zones and benefits they were offering. They have already welcomed the plants of British companies Johnson Controls and Johnson Metty. For the last four months there has been an intensive investment activity in these zones, namely Johnson Controls is opening yet another plant, while the Italian company 'TeknoHose', US 'Kemet Electronics', Russia's 'Protec Group'  and India's 'Motherson Group' have been working on the realization of their investments.

Prince Michael of Kent, who honored the presentaion with his presence, said he was fascinated by the opportunities for investing in Macedonia and urged British businessmen to learn more about them.

At a separate meeting Gruevski and Prince Michael of Kent shared opinions on possibilities for further development of the Macedonian-British cooperation.

Macedonia hosts Days of Ukrainian Culture

Ukrainian, Macedonian Deputy Culture Ministers Yuri Bogutsky and Dragan Nedeljkovic will have the honor Saturday to the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Macedonia.
The manifestation kicks off with the exhibition of art holograms 'Golden Treasury of Ukraine'. The event's program includes the presentation of Mykola Maschenko's and Valeriy Yamburskyy's films 'Bogdan Zinoviy Khmelnytsky' and 'The Day of Defeated' respectively, as well as a concert of the Ukrainian national folk dance ensemble Pavlo Virsky.
On Monday film fans in Skopje will also have an opportunity to see the film 'Platon Angel' - work of art of Ivan Voytyuk.

Macedonia Promises Bulgaria Progress on 'Corridor 8'

Macedonia's government has agreed with Bulgaria's that the still imaginary project for Pan-European Transport Corridor No. 8 is a priority, the Bulgarian Transport Ministry announced.
Macedonia's new promises to help launch at last the transport corridor have come at a meeting of Bulgaria's Deputy Transport Minister Kamen Kichev with his Macedonian counterpart Tehir Hani.
Pan-European Corridor No. 8 – a parallel linking the Bulgarian Black Sea ports to the Albanian Adriatic ports via Macedonia along and its extension to Italy, a supposedly vital chain in the proposed shortest route between East and Central Asia and Western Europe – has been talked about for years with grand expectations for boosting trade and development in the Balkans – but has seen little realization.

Probably the most important obstacle for the project is the lack of a railway connection between Bulgaria and Macedonia, with the Macedonian state balking at the construction of several dozen kilometers of line on its territory.
Bulgaria's Deputy Transport Minister Kichev has presented to the Macedonian government the transport road and railway section under construction and/or rehabilitation in Bulgaria that are part of the proposed route of Corridor 8, the Transport Ministry in Sofia said.
These include the Trakiya Highway and the Lyulin Highway; sections from the Sofia-Burgas railway and the Karnobat-Sindel railway; and the modernization of Port Varna and Port Burgas on the Black Sea.
"The project for the construction of the Sofia-Skopje railway is of strategic significance both because it would connect the railway networks of the two states, and because it would held for the completion of the Corridor 8 route," Kichev told his Macedonian counterpart.
He further said the Bulgarian government needs to construct only 2.5 km of railway from the village of Gyueshevo to the Macedonian border.
"We are ready to build it right now if the Republic of Macedonia starts constructing their section," Milcho Lambrev, Director-General of Bulgaria's National Company "Railway Infrastructure.
"The Bulgarian Transport Ministry further says that Macedonia's Ministry of Transport and Communication "is in an advanced phase of the feasibility study for the railway line from Kumanovo to Deve Bair", the missing railway section on Macedonian territory.
"We are optimistic that we will complete the railway in 5 years," the Macedonian Transport Ministry is quoted as saying.

MIA, Macedonia: “A Name is a Name” documentary to be screened at Global Wake Up Film Festival in Chicago

Skopje. "A Name is a Name" documentary about Macedonia and the Macedonian people will be screened Saturday in Chicago in the frames of the Global Wake Up Film Festival, organised by the United Nations Association of Chicago, Macedonian MIA news agency informed.
"A Name is a Name" documentary is produced by Jason Miko and directed by Icelander Sigurjon Einarson, who lives and works in Norway.
The story line is that of a Scandinavian man who comes to Macedonia, rents a motorcycle, and travels around the country talking to Macedonians from all classes and backgrounds. The traveller, as he is known, never speaks on camera and in fact, we never learn his name or what country he hails from. Instead, his thoughts are conveyed through Sir Andrew Motion with subtitles in English for the interviews. Interspersed throughout the conversations will be Macedonia itself – the stunning landscapes and scenery that make up this gentle country and ancient land.

'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

CNN's 'Eye on Macedonia'

CNN will start special coverage programme Eye on Macedonia from October 10 to 19. CNN news anchor Jim Clancy will be live every day at 6.30 p.m. with special program hosted from different locations in Skopje and Macedonia.

The focus of CNN program on Macedonia will be Skopje 2014 project, economic development, industry, changes in education and infrastructure, new "Alexander the Great" Airport, the singer Esma Redzepova, company for special film effect FX3X, the director Milcho Manchevski as well as education system and unemployment in Macedonia.Macedonia at its geographic location as crossroad between the East and the West is very important country for business, culture and trade, CNN said in a promotional video clip.
Skopje 2014 is ambitious project aimed at raising the cultural profile of the capital and to improve the infrastructure, "Alexander the Great" Airport window towards bigger economic growth, CNN reports.
CNN's Eye On presented different countries as France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, India, Oman, Bahrain, Indonesia South Korea, Japan...

AGROKOR opens distribution centre in Strumica

Agrokor

Croatian company AGROKOR opened Sunday in Strumica “AgroFructus” purchasing and distribution centre for vegetables and fruits worth EUR 20 million. The capacity of the centre is around 60.000 tonnes with tendency to soon increase to 100.000 tonnes.

- The value of investment is very important, but what is more important is the fact that it will bring safe purchase and distribution, larger incomes and bigger competition, PM Nikola Gruevski said addressing the opening ceremony of “AgroFructus” distribution centre.

Gruevski said that the centre is new start for the Macedonian agriculture especially in relation to distribution and will be an example from standards point of view for all future potential investors.

- In the time we are living the private sector realises the distribution. From hereon is the task of the Republic of Macedonia to attract investors that will build more such centres, Gruevski said.

Government besides providing distribution also it increased subsidies and intensively works on agricultural land distribution, Gruevski said.

“AgroFructus” is only the beginning of investments that AGROKOR is planning in the country. Ivica Todoric, chairman of company’s management, said that another similar facility will be built close to “AgroFructus” and also other centres in other regions in the country.

- This capacity that Macedonia has in relation to quality and ecological conditions must be used. Only in this way we will increase the competition of production and this will mean better living standards for the citizens, Todoric said.

Thanking the Macedonian Government for the support, Todoric pointed out that Gruevski did not allow time to be wasted in regard to realisation of the investment.

The largest world investors are prepared to come here. It is excellent news for Macedonia, Todoric said and confirmed that AGROKOR considers other investments in Macedonia.

So far the company purchased and exported from Strumica region around 30.000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables and from Valandovo region around 10 million litres of wine.

Deputy PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Supply Ljupco Dimovski, Deputy Agriculture Minister Zoran Konjanovski and other officials of local self-government and MPs attended the opening ceremony.

200,000 Euros in Subsidies for Tour Ops who bring Foreign Tourists

By now, some EUR 200,000 in subsidies has been paid to tour operators who brought foreign tourists to Macedonia. The Macedonian Ministry of Economy has informed that even more means have been provided for this purpose for the next year. 

Some EUR 1 million has been projected for 2012. In the meantime, applications for subsidies for July and August are ongoing. Tourists from the Netherlands, Russia and Denmark come to Macedonia, says Zoran Nikolovski of the Ministry of Economy. 

The authorities are overwhelmed by the increase in the number of tourists coming to Macedonia. They expect higher foreign currency influx and Macedonia to be put on the global tourist maps.

79 Euros Flights to Venice and Ancona Promoted

As of Sunday, Italy's Belle Air Europe airline kicked off new flights Skopje-Ancona-Skopje and Skopje-Venice-Skopje. Thus, regular connections to Ancona and Venice from Skopje-based Alexander the Great airport are being established twice a week - every Thursday and Sunday.
Swiss tour operator Air Pristina organises the flights from Macedonia to Ancona and Venice in cooperation with Belle Air.One-way tickets for both destinations cost 79 euros including airport taxes.
TAV Macedonia company, which manages the Skopje airport, organised on Sunday a welcome ceremony for the first flight from Ancona, which landed this morning. A Belle Air Europe plane from Skopje to Venice took off also in the morning.
"We are glad for introducing these two important new destinations. We believe that the flights from Skopje to Ancona and Venice will offer opportunities for tourists from Italy to visit Macedonia, thus advancing country's tourist potential," TAV Macedonia's general director Zoran Krstevski said.

Done Deal: Macedonia and USA Sign "Open Skies" Agreement

The United States and Macedonia today reached an Open-Skies aviation agreement, which will allow airlines of the two countries to select routes, destinations and prices for both passenger and cargo service based on consumer demand and market conditions. It is the first aviation agreement between the two countries.
“By agreeing on an open market for aviation services now, we are setting the stage for travel and trade between the United State and Macedonia to develop in the future,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We welcome Macedonia as an Open-Skies partner.
”Open-Skies agreements allow unrestricted access by the airlines of each side to fly to, from and beyond the other’s territory, without restriction on how often carriers fly, the kind of aircraft they use and the prices they charge.
The new opportunities are available immediately. The agreement makes Macedonia the 103rd U.S. Open-Skies partner.

Macedonia becomes part of dutch tourism offer

Ohrid hotel owners and representatives of tour-operator TUI Netherlands signed over the weekend an agreement for lease of holidays at the Ohrid Lake for the coming three seasons.

TUI Netherlands is planning to sell over 7,000 holidays for the next season, along with increase of charter flights to Ohrid.

Vice Premier for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski and TUI officials held Monday a meeting focused on the operator's plans in Macedonia for the coming period.

"We referred to possibilities for improvement of Macedonia's tourism offer. It is of enormous significance for us to improve Macedonia's competitiveness on the global market. Therefore, we aim towards increasing the quality and diversity of our tourism sector", stated Pesevski.

TUI is a leader in the Dutch tourism industry, producing 1,3 million holidays at the country's market in 2010, with a turnover of EUR 1,4 billion. TUI Netherlands is part of the TUI Travel Group, a leading tour-operator in Europe, working in 180 countries and servicing over 30 million tourists in global terms. TUI owns 150 airplanes and employs approximately 49,000 people at six continents.

Goran Atanasovski - Awarded best promoter of Macedonia

Skopje, 16 March 2011 (MIA) - Goran Atanasovski is the winner of 2010 Best Promoter Award for his on-line project Travel2Macedonia and website www.travel2macedonia.com.mk.

The Macedonia's Best Promoter Award is initiated by the project 'Macedonia Loves You' (www.macedonialovesyou.com) as a recognition to people who love Macedonia and promote the country across the globe by their music, photos, humanitarian activities...

The project's mastermind, Macedonia's sincere friend form Poland Stanisalv Pigon, presented the award to Atanasovski at a ceremony in Skopje City Museum.

The Life Achievement Award is presented to Victor A. Friedman for his 35 efforts to promote the Macedonian language and culture across the globe.

Extra statutory awards are presented to Vesna Sokolovska for promoting the Macedonian culture, tradition in London, tenor Blagoj Nacoski for his artistic achievements and promotion of Macedonia worldwide, Team Macedonia Export for supporting Macedonian companies abroad and Vasko Markovski for his 'Free Time Guide' publication.

Awards are also presented to several, individuals, associations and companies.

The award winners have been chosen by citizens at a contest, which was running on the social network Facebook in the past three months.

Macedonia Timeless - Food

New Macedonia Timeless video: Macedonian food.

Macedonia Celebrates Ilinden

If Ilinden 1903 was one of Macedonian disobedience, Ilinden 1944 one of Macedonian perseverance and unity, then Ilinden 2010 is one of Macedonian struggle for success, economic development, better and dignified life of all citizens, said Monday Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in the address at site Meckin Kamen near Krusevo on occasion of August 2-Day of Republic.

According to him, this struggle can be won only through unity and overcoming differences, high moral, patriotism and healthy values.

"Our goal is for the Republic of Macedonia to turn into a country with high quality of life, higher standards and happier people. There is no barrier that can't be overcome. We are determined to achieve the high European ideals and civilization achievements", stressed Gruevski.

He said significant results have been achieved in the past period, such as meeting criteria for NATO accession and the European Commission recommendation for start of EU accession negotiations.

"We must enter with pride and dignity on this path towards our deserved place in the European family of nations, so that we can give the EU additional value. This means it is not good for us, our neighbors and Europe if we accede with low moral, devalued status and damaged feelings. It is rational, humane and culturally the right thing to sit at the table with our friends as Macedonians", stated PM Gruevski.

Unfortunately, he added, when we obtained independence we believed the struggle of generations to come would be progress, education, upgrading of ethnic and religious coexistence, NATO and EU accession, but we are faced with a cruel reality that even in the 21st century, we are still forced to fight for our identity, language, name, nationality and self-determination.

"However, this imposed issue by our neighbor to deal with challenges we believed have long been overcome, will not deter us from our strategic priorities for EU and NATO accession, or the modernization of our society, so that our citizens enjoy a better, safer, richer and quality life", said Gruevski.

"We respect all our neighbors and we want to cooperate with all of them, as we are already doing. We do not want to take away anything from anyone, be it territory, culture, history etc. However, we do not want anything taken away from us too. We are a tolerant and peaceful nation and I believe we will find solutions to the problems in this spirit", he emphasized.

PM Gruevski urged for unity and opening a new modern page in political life.

"Let us try to work together, united behind the platform of a stable, independent and democratic Republic of Macedonia with developed market economy, state ruled by law, a good and respected neighbor and ally. Political differences and difficulties will always exist, like in all other democracies. However, when essential national and civil interests take the stage, we should find the strength to overcome political differences", added Gruevski.

According to him, time has come when the eternal struggle for a better tomorrow should be valued, where everyone would feel happier, more dignified and fulfilled.

"We have an obligation before the remains of the Ilinden fighters to create conditions for general prosperity. We must stage an uprising of intellectual and moral progress. Changes are natural and necessary. We should invest every atom of our strength into the interest of the common good, development of each individual. This is the struggle of today, the struggle of this generation, a struggle that must be won", underlined Gruevski.

The Government delegation attending the central event on occasion of the 107th anniversary from the Ilinden Uprising and 66 years of the first Anti-Fascist Assembly for the People's Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) also included Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Nexhati Jakupi and Minister of Information Society Ivo Ivanovski.

The delegation laid flowers at the grave of Nikola Karev, site Sliva and Krusevo Republic monument at Meckin Kamen.