Following the EU’s decision to grant the Republic of Macedonia a candidate state status and in line with the creation of new opportunities for business and investments in the country, the Republic of Macedonia Business and Investment Summit will take place in Skopje, on 27-28 April 2006. High-ranking officials from the economic, industrial and financial circles will meet on this occasion with the aim of promoting Macedonia’s co-operation with the Western Balkans and establishing closer communication with the EU countries.

This event will largely focus on investment and trade opportunities in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as on the financial services sectors within the evolving economic, banking and financial environment. The participants will include senior governmental experts, businessmen and representatives of companies and financial institutions from more than 20 countries.

Macedonian Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski will open the Summit on Thursday 27 April. His opening address will be followed by the first panel session of the Summit. The following Summit session is set for Friday 28 April.

The wide range of topics to be addressed by senior officials of the Macedonian Government, representatives from European and supra-national organisations, as well as experts from the private sector will attract an audience of decision-makers of large industrial and commercial companies from the sector of energy, as well as telecommunications and IT, mechanical engineering, textiles, food, transportation, goods manufacturing and processing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Managers from small and medium businesses in many sectors of activity will find this Summit of interest as well.

Being an event within the framework of the European Finance Convention, the Republic of Macedonia Business and Investment Summit in Skopje will join the events of the past 19 years, where the leaders of the European Finance Community have been meeting.