The Government’s policies to overcome the crisis and the country’s efforts to create a favorable business environment were in the focus of the address of Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi at the Central and Eastern European Forum hosted by Euromoney in Vienna, MIA transmits.

The forum is considered as the most important gathering of financiers with interest in the CEE region, bringing together finance ministers, central bank governors, representatives of large bank groups, investment funds, international financial institutions, regional groups, representatives of the insurance sector.

“Maintaining contacts with investors in these times is of key importance. In order to strengthen our competitiveness to attract investors, our efforts focus on maintaining our business environment as favorable as possible. This does not mean that we are relying only on competitiveness regarding the wage level. On the contrary, we continue to focus on improving infrastructure, good governance and human capital through modernization of the education system. Amid the existing environment in which the energy crisis prevents growth, we are planning to increase investments in renewable energy sources. Alongside the already initiated structural reforms, we are creating possibilities for continuation of the cooperation with existing but also with potential foreign investors,” said Besimi.

He added that North Macedonia’s approach to attract investments has altered and is now focusing on investments and investors that bring more added value.

This approach is already producing results through the agreements on new investments worth EUR 200 million in 2021 alone, which is about 20 percent of the entire investment portfolio in the free economic zones between 2010-2020.

For over 25 years, the Central and Eastern European Forum has brought together issuers, investors, intermediaries, and policymakers from CEE and beyond to network, gain valuable insights, and help set the agenda for the year ahead.