Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski deems that this year has been rather favourable for the Republic of Macedonia in terms of foreign investments.

"There were 52 million euros of foreign investments in the first month. 2010 was quite successful in that respect, taking into consideration the total foreign investments of 222 million euros, which is a 50% increase than in 2009. In a year, when the world was still tackling the consequences from the global financial crisis, foreign investments were doubled than the average worth of investments achieved between 2003 and 2005," Stavreski stated at the official opening of new veterinary and phytosanitary border inspection facilities at the border crossing point of Tabanovce.

Our ambitions aim higher, he said, and I expect after restoring the trust of investors in the post-crisis period to get back to the level of foreign investments achieved before the crisis - approximately 400 - 500 million euros annually.

"Most of the investments have been successful owing to Government's measure on zero percent of profit tax for firms that have already invested in Macedonia with foreign capital. They have re-invested the profit, which shows that the measure was good because the investors took advantage of it to bolster the funds and return them in Macedonia's economy," FinMin Stavreski stressed.

Speaking to reporters, Stavreski said the Government had taken many measures and activities to assist the sector of construction by boosting public investments.

"The Government remains open for the chambers of commerce to file requests, which will be reviewed according to the possibilities of the state budget," he noted.

"The Government has been engaged recently in the process to tackle inflation and to find ways to mitigate the price blow prompted by surging oil prices, the minister said.