Saturday, March 24, 2007

Johnson Matthey to open factory in Macedonia

Multinational company "Johnson Matthey" has chosen Macedonia, among ten other European countries, as a country where it can spread its production. The factory will be build in Bunardzik free zone, whereas the production process will kick off in 2009. The memorandum for cooperation for investment realisation was signed Thursday by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Johnson Matthey official Collin Geoffrey.

- We've visited 10 countries, including Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, whereas Macedonia had the advantage in terms of our most important criteria with regard to quality and available workforce, its costs, as well as Government's stimulating measures, taxes and land fees, stated Geoffrey after signing the memo, adding that the decision was final, thus taking no other options into consideration.

Johnson Matthey manufactures automobile catalysts. Their decision to enter the Macedonian market was stemming from their need of enhancing the traditional production capacities.

Not stating the exact amount of the investment, Geoffrey said it would worth millions, creating hundreds of jobs.

Gruevski, expressing content for company's decision, said it represented a great challenge for Macedonia, for its production companies, because they had the opportunity to become company's partners, hence sending serious signal for other foreign companies to invest.

- Macedonia's ability to attract big firms such as Johnson Matthey is a very positive signal in terms of our advantages, attractive and low costs and strategic location, said Gruevski.

He stated that ten other companies, despite Johnson Matthey, were entering an advanced investment phase in Macedonia, while one Iceland-based company was about to reach a decision on investing in the bank sector.

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