Skopje, 17 December 2024 (MIA) – The head of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce (AHK) in North Macedonia, Antje Wandelt, says that German investment employees in the country should not worry about their jobs, adding that the current crisis in Germany may be an opportunity for the country, as German manufacturing companies are looking for new markets.

"It is clear that the current situation in Germany has an effect here as well, and raises many questions among the Macedonian public about how the economic crisis in Germany will be reflected here. We are not aware that any of the German investors are planning job cuts here. They plan to use this period for training and education for their employees, but also to invest in new technologies, and therefore they are organizing new education for the staff. It is encouraging that German investments are not only in the area of the automotive industry, but also other sectors where investments are made, and those sectors are not threatened. In the past year, we saw many reinvestments both in the automotive industry and in other sectors, and therefore I believe there is no need for concern," Wandelt told reporters on Tuesday. 

She said that the current crisis in Germany may be an opportunity for the country, noting that German manufacturing companies are looking for new markets, markets that are close and have long-term experience in production, offer European standards and European quality, and that is a great opportunity for the country. She added that the automotive industry in Germany is experiencing a transition and is going through a phase in which certain obstacles need to be overcome.

In response to a reporter's question, she said she believes that the change of government in Germany will not have any impact on German investments in the country and the economic cooperation between the two countries.

"I believe that the new German government will also be interested and will continue to work for economic development, and the change will not have any impact on investments in the country or in terms of cooperation and exports to Germany. Germany is the largest investor in North Macedonia and the largest partner in terms of exports. We have recently had a new potential investor who is interested in investing in plastic processing, so the demand from German companies in terms of the market and the opportunities offered by the country has increased," said Wandelt.

The decrease in Macedonian exports to Germany and the increase in German exports to the country, she added, is due, among other, to the import of technical equipment and machines from Germany that are used in production in the country.

"In the last quarter of 2024, we noticed a slight decline in exports from North Macedonia to Germany, but it is good that according to German parent companies, a return to normal and a re-increase in production is expected in the second quarter of 2025. This year there is also import of technical equipment and various machines used for production that are imported from Germany. However, there is some balance between exports and imports and in general between trade exchange between the two countries," Wandelt said.

Photo: MIA