A business delegation from Brazil to visit Macedonia and get acquainted with the country's opportunities, but also prospective cooperation partners, agreed participants at a business forum held Monday in Brasilia, where the Macedonian Government team presented the economic potentials and benefits for foreign investors.

The forum, organized in cooperation with the National Confederation of Industry Brazil (CNI), was attended by representatives of chambers of commerce and industry, and private companies.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski stressed Brazil's development and investment trend and Macedonia's benefits for foreign investors could represent a good combination towards enhancing bilateral cooperation.

"Brazil has continually invested in its development, including the sectors of construction, agriculture, education, health and infrastructure, reforms in the business environment and knowledge-based economy. Here lie the similarities with Macedonia, which holds numerous comparative advantages and which is seen by many multinational companies as the gateway to the European markets. Brazil can use Macedonia as a possible destination for investment and doing business", said Gruevski.

He referred to reforms towards enhancement of the business climate in Macedonia, as well as the investment benefits, the lowest tax package in Europe, lowest start-up and doing business costs, simplification of administrative barriers through the regulatory guillotine, as well as free trade agreements with all European countries.

"Macedonia has attracted the attention of the global investment community with its breakthrough to the top positions of the most reform-oriented countries, according to the World Bank's 'Doing Business' report. 'PricewaterhouseCoopers' has placed Macedonia on the 24. spot in global terms with regards to the tax burden and tax treatment of businesses. 'Forbes' puts Macedonia second in SEE regarding quality of the business surrounding", said Gruevski.

He invited Brazilian companies to visit Macedonia and see first-hand the benefits that many foreign renowned companies have already used.

CNI director Carlos Eduardo Abijaodi thanked for the presentation, saying in was in the interest of chambers and companies within their confederation to visit Macedonia and make additional analyses, research and assessment.

"It was interesting to listen how Macedonia is implementing reforms in order to create good business conditions. We are trying to do the same in Brazil", he added.

Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski presented the country's macroeconomic indicators, saying they offered functional and predictable business-planning environment.

Minister for Foreign Investments Vele Samak referred to possibilities for investments in the automotive and ICT industries, as well as benefits from investments in the infrastructure field.

Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion director Visar Fida focused on the benefits offered by technological-industrial development zones, tax exemptions and state assistance for investors.