The Netherlands has been a long-term and strong supporter of Macedonia's EU integration process, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Friday, addressing a bilateral business forum in The Hague.

During the turbulent years of transition, the Netherlands has been generously aiding Macedonia to strengthen its macroeconomic stability, becoming now one of the country's top trade partners, Gruevski told to a great number of Dutch businessmen.

For the last five years the average trade exchange between the two countries has been at over EUR 110 million, tending to grow lately.

However, there is a lot of room for bolstering the bilateral trade cooperation, Gruevski said. The inflow of Dutch investments in Macedonia was at EUR554,4 million, or 16,5 percent of the overall FDI inflow in the country by the end of 2010. This year figure for Dutch investments stands at EUR 91,1 million, which is a solid proof that Dutch businessmen believe in Macedonia's sound macroeconomic basis and business climate, the PM said.

Since the beginning of this year the EU members and Macedonia have been enjoying the benefits of fully liberalised trade of industrial products, while the country's CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) membership offers additional opportunity for accessing consumers of this region.

"If we consider the possibilities that stem from other free trade agreements, it means that those who will invest and produce in Macedonia are to get access to over 650 million consumers," Gruevski said.

Presenting the favorable opportunities for investing in Macedonia, the PM mentioned the beneficial tax policy, simple business regulations, investments in human resources...

"Macedonia went through a mild recession during the economic turmoil, managing for a rather brief period to return to the pre-crisis GDP growth of 5-6 percent. Recognizing the country's achievements for the last five years the World Bank Doing Business Report has been ranking the country among the top reformers," the PM said.

The improved business climate has raised the interest of foreign companies to invest in Macedonia, Gruevski said, listing also the benefits of the technological-industrial development zones in the country.

"I believe that this business forum will open new perspective in the Macedonian-Dutch friendship," the PM said.

Most of the Dutch businessmen attending the event expressed interest to invest in Macedonia's IT sector, textile industry and agriculture.

Today, Gruevski also held meetings with several CEOs powerful Dutch companies.

Three days ago, the Macedonian delegation, which also includes Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Vladimir Pesevski, Minister for Foreign Investments Vele Samak and Director of the Directorate of Technological Industrial Development Zones Viktor Mizo, promoted the country's opportunities for investing to Belgian businessmen in Brussels.