| Fifth Annual Assembly of the ICI - 02/10/08 |
|
|
|
| Thursday, 12 June 2008 | |
|
The Fifth annual assembly of the ICI took place on 6 February 2008 in Alexandar Palace Hotel in Skopje. The assembly with the official dinner was attend by over 300 foreign investors from the country and from the region, top government official, ambassadors and representatives of the international organizations and local business community. Official speaker and gust of honor was the Vice President of the Government, Mr. Zoran Stavrevski. In his address to the audience, Vice President of the Government, Mr. Zoran Stavrevski said: Allow me to thank the organizers on the invitation and the given honor to address the Fifth Annual Assembly of the International Council of Investors. I am especially honored to address this auditorium - foreign investors, which have chosen this country as business destination for investment of their own capital and which are part of our business elite for many years. International Council of Investors is more numerous from year to year and I hope that we shall keep this trend in the years to come. Meetings of this type between the Government with the organized associations of the private sector are excellent opportunity to make a retrospective of what has been done, to exchange experiences and impressions, but also to give constructive proposals and ideas for more successful implementation of the economic policy in the Republic of Macedonia. Behind us is a very intensive year, a year of significant and important reforms in several areas, but also an introduction into new challenges for creation of even more favorable environment for operation to all businessman. We made great efforts to invigorate the economic activity, to increase the competitiveness of the private sector, but also to increase the image of the country as attractive business location.The President of the ICI Mr. Aristides Vlahos gave a speech pointing to the achievements of the ICI: Today marks a milestone for the International Council of Investors, since this is the sixth anniversary from its inception. During this period, all ICI members have worked hard and with persistence in order to achieve the aims that we had set and we are very satisfied with the result. The International Council of Investors - has been for four years now the official association of the country in the OECD network for SE Europe - closely co-operates with all the international organizations active in the country (World Bank, IMF, BAC/SECI, UN) - is a member of the Vienna Economic Forum - participates in the regulatory Guillotine Project as the representative of the foreign investors. Furthermore, ICI - is invited and participates in all the economic fora of Europe, promoting the country as a destination for foreign investments - has a continuous presence in the major international media - participates in the official dialogue with the government as regards foreign investments - has issued, for four consecutive years, the White Book. ICI''''''''s White Book is a collection of the views and opinions of the foreign investors on the investment climate and the macroeconomic fundamentals as well as of suggestions for their improvement. Mr. Vlachos in his address to the present government representatives further stated: The country is at a decisive point. The road to modernization of the society and the economy is one-way. If the beginning of this road was the Association and Stabilization Agreement, the end of it is the full integration of the country into the European family. And this is an objective you, yourself, have set. In order for this aim to be achieved – a development we all wish for – it is necessary that some specific criteria are fulfilled. Criteria which apply – without exception – to all countries that pursue their EU integration. EU is not merely an economic union but, all the more so, a union of common principles and values. The consensus and the dedication of all the social, political and economic partners to that aim are the elements required for success. We, being ourselves an economic partner, will support you in this effort and we will be prepared to offer our help. We will promote the positive steps but we will reserve our right for constructive criticism where we believe that it is needed. This is, in any case, imposed by the truthful nature of a partnership.At the end I would like to sincerely thank you for your presence here, today, which demonstrates in practice your true interest in foreign investors.  |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Become a member
| Sign up |
| Application Form |
| Letter of authorization |
About ICI
| Establishment |
| General idea |
| Future targets |
| More |
Interviews
| Forum Plus Interview |
| DiePresse.com |
| FT.com |
FIC SEE Network
| FIC Network |