Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Sunday the country must focus on high-value products to boost the national economy and gross domestic product (GDP).
“By consolidating the European market, which is our largest trade market, since more than two-thirds of our exchange is with the EU, I expect this growth to intensify, and why not reach the desired 4 to 5, or even 6% GDP growth,” Mickoski said in response to a media question after the launch of the new farmers’ market in Vinica.
The Prime Minister believes that Macedonia can offer foreign investors a strategic location, because, as he said, as a country we are the crossroads of two important European corridors – Corridor X, which aims to connect Central Europe with the Mediterranean via the Aegean Sea, and Corridor VIII, which should connect the Adriatic and Ionian Seas with the Black Sea.
“These are two very important corridors and we are a natural crossroads. All foreign investors can use this as an advantage. Another advantage is the experienced and quality staff that we can offer them, as well as staff that has knowledge, which is our comparative advantage compared to the rest of the competition in the region. We can offer many, many more things, because the citizens of Macedonia are honest and hardworking people, people who want to work, people who want to create and love their country. I think that means a lot to investors as well,” Mickoski pointed out.
“If we take a look at the analyses released by the State Statistics Office (SSO), of the slightly under 90,000 unemployed currently actively seeking work, if we exclude farmers and individuals, who number several tens of thousands, and if we exclude high school students aged 15 and 16, because the statistical operation covers citizens aged 15 to 65, then we will arrive at an unemployment rate that is below 5% or even lower,” noted the PM.
