Skopje, 28 March 2023 (MIA) – We have managed to change the perception of foreign investors that North Macedonia is a destination with cheap labor. Now foreign investors decide to invest in our country not because of the low wages of the employees, but because of other more favorable conditions for business provided by the country, said Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi on Tuesday.

Bytyqi told a Q&A session in Parliament that the trend of positive results in the technological industrial development zones (TIDZ) to continue in 2023.

“The TIDZ have shown remarkable results in the past year, and I expect this trend to continue in 2023. There is no greater confirmation that the country is moving in the right direction than the creation of new jobs, capital investments, wage increases and assistance for the citizens, businesses, subsidies for farmers and new foreign investments,” said Bytyqi.

According to the Deputy PM, the growth of exports and jobs has continued in 2023 as well. The monthly analysis for February has shown that TIDZ companies have carried out exports worth over EUR 330 million, which is a 20-percent increase compared to January 2023, 26 percent higher compared to 2021 and 53 percent more than in 2020. Additionally, the number of employees rose in January and currently stands at 16,500 employees.

"In just the first two months of 2023, almost 190 new jobs have been created in TIDZ companies," said Bytyqi.

These results, he added, have been achieved with zero public funds spent on promotion. ad/ik/