Macedonia's investment opportunities will be presented on November 21-24 in three European cities by a government delegation, led by Premier Nikola Gruevski.

Investment opportunities will be presented before business communities in Vienna (Austria) and Munich and Dusseldorf (Germany). Activities carried out by the government to improve the business climate, benefits provided by technological and industrial zones are going to be presented as well as activities aiming at promoting Macedonia as an investment destination.

Austria is one of the leading investors in Macedonia with an influx of foreign investments of 371.9 million euros between 1997 and 2010 and takes the prime spot according to the influx of foreign direct investments from 2005 to 2010. This year, the influx of investments stands at 10 million euros. Austrian capital has been invested in telecommunications, banking sector, insurance and other areas.

Interest have been shown for investments in energy sector, agriculture, automotive industry, business services, pharmaceutical industry, construction, tourism and infrastructure.

Trade exchange with Austria in the first seven months of 2011 stands at 98.004.000 US dollars, with deficit on Macedonia side.

German direct investments until 2010 are in amount of 71.370.000 euros i.e. 2.98% of total foreign direct investments in Macedonia. 0.11 million euros have been invested this year mainly in textile and metal industry and transportation.

Germany is expected to invest in Macedonia in several sectors - automotive industry, IT, agriculture, business, energy, tourism, construction and infrastructure - taking into consideration the favourable bilateral trade ties, country's support of Macedonia's economic reforms and its EU accession bid.

Germany is one of Macedonia's most important trade partners. Total trade exchange this year is 1.110.150.000 US dollars with a surplus on Macedonian side.

In Austria, PM Nikola Gruevski will meet with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl. He is also scheduled to take part at a Macedonian-Austrian business forum and to address the Vienna Economic Forum.

In Germany, PM Gruevski will deliver addresses at forums in Munich and Dusseldorf and he is expected to hold talks with Bavaria's State Minister for European and Federal Affairs, Emilia Mueller and with Executive Director of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, Rainer Lindner.

Both Austria and Germany are strong supporters of Macedonia and urge a date for start of EU membership talks to be fixed.

PM Gruevski is accompanied by Vice PM for Economic Affairs, Vladimir Pesevski, minister without portfolio Vele Samak, Director of the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion Visar Fida and Director of the Directorate for Technological and Industrial Development Zones Viktor Mizo.