Macedonia Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski led a business promotion delegation in Belgium, where he met with representatives of over 100 companies gathered at a forum in Antwerp. Stavreski said that company representatives expressed interest in the business conditions in Macedonia, the administrative, taxation and customs policies, as well as the available workforce and infrastructure.

"Our visit to the Flemish part of Belgium, to Antwerp, went very well and I'm pleased that many companies expressed their satisfaction with the business conditions offered by Macedonia. This is a rich region, home to some of the most successful companies in Belgium. Our package is one of low taxes, good administrative policies, tax exemptions in the industrial zones, the good quality work force and available logistics and infrastructure in a country that continuously undertakes reforms that improve the business climate", Stavreski said after the meeting.

Stavreski said that the Belgium based Van Hool company that operates a bus assembly line near the Macedonian capital Skopje has helped bring other investments to Macedonia, as reports of its success spread. "I expect that in the coming months we will have several visits to Macedonia, based on the talks we had today with businessmen, and their interest to expand their investments and add new jobs", Stavreski said.

Philip Van Hool, owner of the company, said that they were drawn to Macedonia by the favorable business climate, which is evidenced by the continuous arrival of other investors. "We like the approach the Government has toward business. We have direct access to all decision makers, and if there is a problem, it is resolved immediately. The business climate is very favorable. We work under full capacity, and two days ago we initiated a new investment program. We intend to continue investing in Macedonia. in the meantime, we persuaded several other Belgian companies to also invest in Macedonia. It is good that we share the same mentality. I particularly like the fact that there are qualified workers available, and their flexibility", Van Hool said.

Belgium is a growing trade partner for Macedonia, with 101 million EUR of Macedonian exports in the first 10 months of 2015, and 55 million EUR in imports. In 2014, trade exchange grew by 9,6 percent.