ECNWM today organized a press conference, presenting the analysis of the Vizbeg area. As a legitimate representative of the business community in the Republic of North Macedonia, striving to protect and promote business interests at home and abroad, in order to create the most favorable conditions for doing business, it has always been, is and will be at the forefront of the challenges and barriers that hinder the normal development of member companies.

The Vizbeg area, since its inception, has been the focus of ECNWM’s public appearances because of its importance in the country’s economic development. This area is the only positive example that survives thanks to its own capacities, is an area that generates significant profit margins and significantly affects the reduction of unemployment in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Equal regional development and the creation of equal conditions for all industrial zones in cities should also have an impact on preventing the displacement of skilled and quality workforce. This is one of the fundamental mechanisms to keep in place the new generations that represent the future of our country.

Regarding the infrastructure aspect and the conditions for doing business it is very important to say that the Vizbeg area, although belonging to the Skopje Planning Region, lacks primary infrastructure for normal operation, such as: connection to the sewage and water supply network, regular power supply, repair of road infrastructure, etc.

ECNWM today presented a specific analysis of the future state and development prospects of this area. This analysis was conducted by ECNWM in collaboration with INSIDER ID and Target Group.

From the processed and analyzed data, it can be seen that: Vizbeg industrial zone accounts for about 3.4% of GDP in the Republic of North Macedonia; companies in this area have significant growth in revenues from 2013 to 2017 from 270.3 to 342.7 million euros, with a larger increase in 2016 of 380.1 million euros, or an average increase of 7% per year over the period 5 years or 72 million euros; the area as a whole has a high economic growth rate compared to the Macedonian economy, which points to the success of these companies, although the conditions in this area are not favorable; according to the companies’ revenue, expenditure and profit movement, projections are that by 2022, total revenues will reach 431.3 million euros; redirecting small and medium-sized enterprises through incentives in the form of financial means and workspaces, which will increase cooperation opportunities that would improve the ecosystem and be crucial to the exponential growth of the area and the growth of the countries economy; businesses operating in this area prove sustainability whereby 41% of them are active in the market over 11 years, 21.8% are active for 7 to 10 years and 15.5% of companies are active for 4-6 years; Regarding the activity carried out by the companies in this area, the largest percentage of them offer wholesale and retail trade with around 48%, while the processing industry is second with 19%, which is logical since production requires higher infrastructure than commerce; area companies employ more than 2800 workers, and in line with the growth trend and realistic economic forecasts, this number is expected to increase to 3100 workers or 11% from the current situation in the 5-year period; infrastructural problems and institutional negligence have led to the demise of 139 companies within a five year period, so we must ask whether this trend will continue or whether we will act efficiently and effectively to prevent such and we are talking only about increasing the number of companies established in this area.

These data undoubtedly prove that the Vizbeg area represents a very important link in the functioning of the economy in the country, both for realized turnover and for new employment.