MACEDONIA: Government Promotes Fourth Package of Anti-crisis Measures

The Government presented Saturday the fourth anti-crisis package, including 24 measures targeting the areas of tax policy, crediting, agriculture, property issues, construction, social policy and regulatory guillotine.

"The new package has resulted from a serious and continual dialogue between Government institutions and business entities", said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski at a press conference.

PM Gruevski stressed the package went in parallel with the third stage of regulatory guillotine and measures for improvement of the business climate.
"VAT law will be amended, thus giving the possibility for companies to pay VAT liabilities up to the 25th day in the month. Fee for privatization of land of legal entities will be reduced by 30 percent, along with improvement of conditions regarding the use of the EIB credit line, introduction of a new credit line for support of SMEs", stated Gruevski.

He added that import of products not meeting certain international standards would be prevented, in order to protect domestic producers and consumers from unfair competition.

"Fund for agriculture land will be established, intended for unemployed individuals living in rural environments, whereas procedures in the construction sector will be shortened and accelerated”, said Gruevski.

PM Gruevski underlined the measures would yield not only short-term positive effects, but raise the competitiveness of Macedonia’s economy.

According to him, the prior three anti-crisis packages have contributed to the improvement of the situation, whereas measures worth over EUR 300 mln have contributed to a successful management of the crisis.

"We ended 2009 with the third best economic result in Europe regarding the GDP rate, having the second-least budget deficit. Challenges still exist and we are obliged to resume with the enhancement of the business climate, in order to meet the 2010 projected growth", underlined Gruevski.

Source: www.vlada.mk