“The Republic of Macedonia is a country that offers the lowest costs for doing business, while free trade agreements with all countries in Europe provide a market of 660 million inhabitants where products could be exported without customs duties.”

This was stated by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in an interview with the Toronto-based Business News Network (BNN). Mr. Gruevski is leading a delegation on a U.S., Canada tour.

"Everything that is manufactured in Macedonia can be exported in the EU without customs duties and a market of 660 million people can be covered from Macedonia. The second important benefit offered by Macedonia is low costs for doing business, not only taxes, but everything else. There is no other country in Europe offering lower costs for running a business. On the other hand, Macedonia has a high potential involving a large number of educated people who are ready to join the companies. There is a stable market economic policy, low indebtedness of 28% of GDP, low inflation and that means favourable business conditions. Plus, we have free economic zones offering special benefits for companies that are investing. For instance, one of the benefits is a 10-year tax exemption for companies investing in the free economic zones," Mr. Gruevski stated.

When asked how Macedonia had managed to weather the global economic crisis in the past three years with low taxes and a possible GDP growth of 2%, the PM referred to the government's measures for building a favourable business climate.

"Since the beginning of the global economic crisis, we have taken a series of measures and focused on how to help the companies, both foreign and local ones, to endure the economic crisis and the European debt crisis with minor consequences. As a result of the numerous reforms, low taxes, with a project called the Regulatory Guillotine aimed to cut down bureaucratic procedures, we have created a better business climate. Consequently, the country's position in the World Bank's annual edition 'Doing Business' was drastically improved. In 2006, Macedonia was 96th, while today it is ranked 22nd in the world according to the conditions for doing business and it is ranked better than Central and Eastern European countries and 19 countries out of 27 EU members. Thus, one of our main advantages was established - a very good climate for doing business," said PM Gruevski.

Asked why Macedonia wanted to join the EU even though the union was facing problems of its own, PM Gruevski underlined that we share the same values with Western Europe.

"Generally, our strategic goal is to join the EU, first and foremost because the region where Macedonia belongs, the Balkan Peninsula, is heading toward the EU. This is good because the EU has better standards that we are implementing in our country and in the region. Substantial support is provided through EU funds for aspiring countries, therefore there are many reasons. We also share the same values with Western Europe and that is one of the reasons why we want to be there," the PM concluded.

The PM also mentioned the presentations of Macedonia's business conditions at events held in Montreal and Toronto.