Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski attended Monday in Vienna the closing meeting of Austria's presidency with the Central European Initiative (CEI).
At the forum, the CEI presidency was handed over to Macedonia by Austria, the government's PR sector said in a press release.
Speaking at the forum attended by heads of government, PM Gruevski highlighted the political and economic priorities of Macedonia's presidency and presented a draft calendar of activities serving as a basis in meeting objectives and priorities.
"I highlighted the priorities of our presidency in 2015. Apart from EU integration of all Western Balkan countries, which is considered as the main political priority, I also outlined economic priorities i.e. priorities related to the construction of infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and culture development. At the same time, I had the chance to present Macedonia's priorities at political and economic level which are, in fact, coinciding with these regional priorities," PM Gruevski stated.
The forum was attended by prime ministers of several Central and Southeastern European countries with whom Gruevski held brief talks.
"I had the opportunity to hold talks with many premiers, including Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann, Italy's Matteo Renzi, Slovenia's Miro Cerar with whom we also discussed the possibility to organize a bilateral meeting in the coming period. I also held meetings with the Croatian PM Zoran Milanovic, Montenegro's Milo Djukanovic and BiH's Vjekoslav Bevanda and many other counterparts attending the event. This was an excellent opportunity to share views, strengthen mutual relations as premiers, exchange information involving our common goals and EU integration, as well as economic prosperity, growth, and regional development. All in all, it was an excellent opportunity for good contacts and to promote the priorities of Macedonia's presidency with the Central European Initiative," PM Gruevski stated.
Launched 25 years ago, the Central European Initiative is one of the most prominent regional multilateral initiatives consisted of a number of countries in Central and Southeastern Europe that cooperate on various issues of mutual interest at political and economic level.
Gruevski: Macedonia offers lowest costs for doing business in Europe
Macedonia has made a good economic headway registering the third best GDP growth in Europe last year and having the second best GDP growth of 4.1% in the first half of 2014, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski stated Monday in his address at the Vienna Economic Forum.
Gruevski referred to the steps made by Macedonia with regards to economy and their results putting an emphasis on macroeconomic stability, capital infrastructural investments and the lowest costs for doing business in Europe.
“We are focused on macroeconomic stability, public debt is low moderate nearing 40%. We are focused on capital investments in infrastructure. Currently, three highways and a railroad track towards Bulgaria are being built. What is very important for investors is that apart from the workforce offered in Macedonia, the country also has the lowest cost for running a business in Europe,” said PM Gruevski.
Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Chancellor Werner Faymann, Albanian PM Edi Rama, Montenegrin Premier Milo Djukanovic, Bulgaria’s Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Suma Chakrabarti and other notable officials of other European countries or multilateral organizations are attending the 11th Vienna Economic Forum – one of the most renowned political and economic events in Europe.
