Macedonia jumps 15 places on the Forbes doing Business List

[The LION will ROAR]

Report says Macedonia has strongest business climate in the region

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2013/11/06/roundup-bs-03

Macedonia is the country with the easiest conditions for doing business in the Balkans, according to the 2014 Doing Business report. Macedonia ranks 25th in the list of 189 economies, followed by Cyprus at 39th, Montenegro at 44th, Bulgaria at 58th, Turkey at 69th, Greece at 72nd, Romania at 73rd. Kosovo is at 86th, followed by Croatia at 89th, Albania at 90th and Serbia at 93rd. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is ranked lowest among its Balkan peers at 131st.

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Corruption is a major obstacle to doing business in the Western Balkans, according to the latest report of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Commission. The document reported that the highest average level of bribery in business is required in Kosovo, while corruption is most widespread in Serbia, where people need to spend an average of 935 euros on bribery to get a license or start a business. In Kosovo, meanwhile, a bribe averages 1,787 euros.

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Montenegro banned the imports of agricultural products from Albania after spiroxamine was found in a shipment of cucumbers. Spiroxamine is used as agricultural fungicide.

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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the German-based Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) launched a 100 million-euro fund to improve municipal infrastructure in the Western Balkans. The fund will finance projects in Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, BiH and Kosovo.

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Russian gas giant Gazprom kicked off the construction of the Bulgarian section of the South Stream pipeline that will transport natural gas across the Black Sea and Bulgaria to Europe. The section will be 540 kilometres long and will cost about 3.5 billion euros. Construction of the Serbian section of the pipe is scheduled to start by the end of this year.

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The World Bank launched an Islamic Development Centre in Istanbul. The centre, set up in collaboration with Turkey's government, aims to share and disseminate information on the development of Islamic finance, provide consultancy in the field and work to strengthen institutional infrastructure.

The Serbian unit of Italian car maker Fiat halted production due to a failure by one of its suppliers to deliver parts. The reason was a blockade of railways and roads in the area by protesting workers at a local transport company.

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Romania raised 395 million euros from the privatisation of Central Europe's largest natural gas producer Romgaz. The state sold a 15 percent stake in the company on the Bucharest and London stock exchanges.

[Phoenix]

...I have contemplated starting a business in Macedonia many times and have decided against it every time. The country is a freaking mess with no respect for the law or ability to protect yourself through the judicial system.

Or maybe they only scam their own people and through inferiority leave the foreigners alone.

Gocka...caveat emptor, when doing business in Macedonia.
It's probably ok if you're a powerful multi-national business but be prepared to get farked over if you're doing it as a private individual from the diaspora.

Slightly off topic... I have a friend here in Australia who's been trying to get back some family land that was taken by the post WWII communists.
Each time he has a 'win' through the Macedonian 'legal' system, there's an appeal and the matter has to be addressed at a higher level.
My view is that the authorities are trying to wear him down and hope he abandons his claim (to his land) because that land was somehow ceded to some local government or authority and sold onto some criminal etc.
Corruption at every level and the lawyers can see a good pay day like the vultures they are and they'll continue to drag it out for as long as he's prepared to fight and throw money around...I can see it ending in badly for my friend and any individual doing the same.

[George S.]

"I have contemplated starting a business in Macedonia many times and have decided against it every time. The country is a freaking mess with no respect for the law or ability to protect yourself through the judicial system." Fully agree gocka It's not safe to iinvest yet.THe govt gouge you with their taxes & curruption etcwill rob you of your investment.Tourism stats are very much a doctored thing.

[Gocka]

You have to question the credibility of many of these claims about the economic achievements in Macedonia.
A couple of decades since the declaration of independence and the unemployment rate hasn't seen any significant fall, instead it seems to be perpetually pegged at 30%.

A country of 2 million people, with an extremely competitive wages structure shouldn't have 30% unemployment, even when most of Europe is in recession.

I came to the same conclusion when looking at government tourism statistics. The numbers just didn't make any sense and I came to the conclusion that they are including day visitors for shopping, business and other non tourism related reasons.

There was no information what so ever about the statistics, like how they are gathered, through what methods, inclusions and exclusions. again for the purpose of trying to over exaggerate the amount of tourists every year.

I have contemplated starting a business in Macedonia many times and have decided against it every time. The country is a freaking mess with no respect for the law or ability to protect yourself through the judicial system.

Or maybe they only scam their own people and through inferiority leave the foreigners alone.

[Phoenix]

You have to question the credibility of many of these claims about the economic achievements in Macedonia.
A couple of decades since the declaration of independence and the unemployment rate hasn't seen any significant fall, instead it seems to be perpetually pegged at 30%.

A country of 2 million people, with an extremely competitive wages structure shouldn't have 30% unemployment, even when most of Europe is in recession.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Over the past five years, Macedonia has simplified the process of establishing a business by lowering capital requirements, reducing application procedures and time, and improving its online one-stop shop.

Sounds great on paper. But take a drive through Macedonia and see some of the abandoned factories, warehouses, etc. Then talk to people who live there about the unwritten requirement to be aligned with one political party or another, and those that have tried to unsuccessfully run businesses, and you will get another picture altogether. As much as I don't want to say it, corruption is rampant at all levels and many of those in a position of power or influence are just waiting to scam their next victim. That is not to say that there is no chance of success, but it many cases it comes down to who you know (or rather who you're prepared to pay off). Gruevski and his lackeys like to harp on about all of these so-called foreign investments in Macedonia.....they must all be in Skopje because I didn't see many in Bitola.

Further, have any of you seen the roads there? There are pot holes all over the place, many of the street signs either have graffiti, are discoloured beyond recognition, or are torn apart. They've been like that for years and the government hasn't done jack shit about it. The conditions in many of the villages are basically third world. One of the most disgusting things I saw was the road to Krusevo when coming from Demir Hisar. Absolutely shocking. Even the road to Krusevo coming from Prilep was catastrophic but they fixed some of it the day before Ilinden because Gruevski was paying a visit. And this is a glorious city and symbol of our struggle which Macedonians visit each year.

Macedonia is such a beautiful country, it has the potential to be so much more than it is, through tourism, investments, local industry, etc. But the system, firmly in the hands of greedy and corrupt politicians and stupidly perpetuated by the unwilling, indifferent or ignorant segments of the voting citizenry, is hopeless. Nothing short of a people's revolution and/or a new politician party (that will work for the true benefit of Macedonia and not discriminate along party lines) will change it.

[George S.]

in 1994 the govt confiscated the dollars on the pretext that the yugo bank etc needed it.So many people from the diaspora lost out on their life savings.You could have some of your money in macedonian currency but not all.I heard directors were buying off businesses & factories using the dollars from peopl's savings. What guarantee is there if we do business that they wont confiscate our money.

[The LION will ROAR]

10 best places to start a business

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/01/business/10-best-places-to-start/index.html

1.New Zealand 2. Australia 3. Canada 4. Singapore 5. Macedonia


Over the past five years, Macedonia has simplified the process of establishing a business by lowering capital requirements, reducing application procedures and time, and improving its online one-stop shop.

[Prolet]

Macedonia 36th on Forbes' Top Countries for Business
Monday, 13 September 2010

Macedonia is among leading countries listed on global rankings according to business conditions. Forbes listed Macedonia on 36th place out of 100 top countries to do business in.

In comparison with the last year, Macedonia jumped by 15 places. However, good ranking has not helped Macedonia to attract more foreign investors due to the economic crisis still lingering worldwide.

According to the official data, direct foreign investments reached EUR 99.6 million this year. Out of all regional countries, Macedonia ranks the best in the Forbes’ list.

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/16457/1/

[Prolet]

Phoenix, I totally agree with you, im not saying we are worthless and that we should be learning from them, im stating that we should use them as an example of how a small country can achieve alot even more then the bigger countries around them.

If they can do it then so can we thats for sure, we have alot of potential and talent however there needs to be a path for those who are good enough to achieve success on all fields. We are certainly highly ranked when it comes to Culture and Arts, we are not there yet with the sports but we got the talent and have the potential to do well.

[Phoenix]

They say themselves that they are, do you know that Trst is in the Balkans too? i was surprised when i saw the list. 15 places is a long way to go up, things are improving for sure we just need to sort out of a things especially with the denationalization and other things. We need to look at the Slovenians at everything, they are a similar country to us in size and population there is alot we can learn from them. Just look at them in the Sporting field they qualify for every national event in Handball,Football and Basketball i say well done to them.

Phoenix, The owner of the Veropolous chain stores who was interviewed when the new Vero shopping mall was opened in Skopje (Opposite the National Bank) said that he is more then happy with the way he was treated and that the whole process went ahead alot quicker then he expected. He said that things need to improve but he said that we are miles ahead of Greece when it comes to doing business, getting the licenses, bureaucracy ect. He said he openly criticizes the Greek Government and he is not happy there at all, he said he was very happy in Macedonia and that he's invested over 80 million Euros in the last 15 years which is a respectable figure. I just hated it how he kept on saying your country instead of Macedonia, having been there for the past 15 years surly after spending millions he would have learned to say Macedonia.

We are not there yet by any means but i think in 2-3 years time we'll be the region leaders in this field if we keep working hard at this pace, hopefully we dont burn out.

Prolet, that's why I would much prefer if the Macedonian government went out of their way to attract Macedonian business people from the diaspora instead of these 'greek' bufoons...

You can go on and on about the Slovenians all you like Prolet but there's nothing that they can teach us, we have the expertise and the ability to succeed in all fields but what we must do is create the right environment to prosper and to help ourselves...

If you look around the globe at the success of Macedonians in the business world, in sport and the arts, the slovenians haven't achieved a fraction of that...

[Prolet]

They say themselves that they are, do you know that Trst is in the Balkans too? i was surprised when i saw the list. 15 places is a long way to go up, things are improving for sure we just need to sort out of a things especially with the denationalization and other things. We need to look at the Slovenians at everything, they are a similar country to us in size and population there is alot we can learn from them. Just look at them in the Sporting field they qualify for every national event in Handball,Football and Basketball i say well done to them.

Phoenix, The owner of the Veropolous chain stores who was interviewed when the new Vero shopping mall was opened in Skopje (Opposite the National Bank) said that he is more then happy with the way he was treated and that the whole process went ahead alot quicker then he expected. He said that things need to improve but he said that we are miles ahead of Greece when it comes to doing business, getting the licenses, bureaucracy ect. He said he openly criticizes the Greek Government and he is not happy there at all, he said he was very happy in Macedonia and that he's invested over 80 million Euros in the last 15 years which is a respectable figure. I just hated it how he kept on saying your country instead of Macedonia, having been there for the past 15 years surly after spending millions he would have learned to say Macedonia.

We are not there yet by any means but i think in 2-3 years time we'll be the region leaders in this field if we keep working hard at this pace, hopefully we dont burn out.

[Big Bad Sven]

We are ranked 36th out of a possible 100 countries, Slovenia is the only country ranked higher in the region ranked 26th while the others are way behind us. Thats a major jump and hopefully within the next 2 years we can be very competitive.

Slovenija 26

Macedonia 36

Croatia 48

Bulgaria 53

Monte Negro 59

Albania 65

Serbia 81

Bosnia Herzegovina 100

---------------------------------

Denmark is ranked number 1

http://www.kanal5.com.mk/default.asp...&eventId=64699

Prolet, your litle friends the Slovenians get a bit red faced when you label them with the "dirty blacks" that live in the balkans

They are no longer balkan or eastern european people since entering the EU, but "central europeans"

Keep on yodelling brother

[Phoenix]

Macedonia needs to create the right environment to entice diaspora Macedonians to invest in small and medium size businesses.

There's heaps of diaspora Macedonian businessmen who have been successful in operating small and medium enterprises, everything from hospitality, retail, logistics and construction...

Small and medium size businesses are the prime drivers of the economy and if the right conditions existed in Macedonia, mainly business confidence and transparency, perhaps more diaspora investment would be made...

[Frank]

Again for the fifteen thousand time Macedonia is a World Champion at paper reforms it really is. But in reality doing Business in Macedonia is a risky venture.