The World Affairs Council of Austin’s International Trade Center is pleased to offer the Global Business Series: Trade Briefing on Macedonia featuring Ms. Zorica Ilin, Head of Texas Foreign Office of the Agency for Foreign Investment and Export Promotion of the Republic of Macedonia.
Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment. The Republic has maintained macroeconomic stability throughout the global financial crisis. Current monetary policy has kept the domestic currency pegged to the euro.
A dozen reasons to invest in Macedonia:
FREE MARKET ACCESS
Duty-free access to a market of over 650 million customers through three multilateral (SAA, EFTA and CEFTA) and two bilateral (Turkey and Ukraine) Free Trade Agreements
LOW TAXES
Flat corporate and personal income tax rates at 10%; 0% tax on retained earnings
LOW OPERATIONAL COSTS
One of the most cost-competitive locations in Europe
EXCELLENT GEO-STRATEGIC POSITION
Goods delivered within a day to Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey, and maximum two days to Western Europe
FAST COMPANY REGISTRATION
One-stop-shop system for company registration within 4 hours
EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Wireless national backbone infrastructure, digital telecommunications system, extensive highway network, two
international airports with regular connections to main European transportation centers
RESPONSIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Universities willing to collaborate with incoming investors in meeting the required skills
EXCELLENT FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS
English widely spoken, French and German embedded in the education system, regional languages in wide use
AVAILABLE SKILLED WORKFORCE
A young (42% under the age of 30) and educated workforce with a strong work ethic and excellent industrial relations record
HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE
Highly attractive living and working conditions
POLITICAL, MONETARY AND MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
EU AND NATO CANDIDATE COUNTRY
Program partners include:
