Director Dimovski Participates in Economic Forum “Race to the Bottom” – Transparency of State Aid for Attracting and Supporting Investments in the Western Balkans

Director Dimovski Participates in Economic Forum “Race to the Bottom” – Transparency of State Aid for Attracting and Supporting Investments in the Western Balkans

Organized by the Institute for Economic Research and Policies, Finance Think, the economic forum titled “Race to the Bottom” was held today. The forum presented findings from the latest study on the types and amounts of state aid provided to domestic and foreign companies, with a focus on the transparency and accountability of relevant institutions in the Western Balkan countries.

The forum was opened by Blagica Petreski, Executive Director of Finance Think, and Adriana Lavchiska, Program Manager at the Open Society Foundation – Western Balkans. They delivered introductory remarks highlighting the key findings and achievements of the project.

The keynote speaker was Elena Calistru, a member of the EESC – European Economic and Social Committee, and rapporteur for the EESC opinion on “Strengthening Fiscal Transparency through Participatory Budgeting in the EU.” She emphasized the pivotal role of fiscal transparency, particularly regarding state aid.

During the panel discussion, government representatives, business sector members, and economic researchers discussed state aid measures in the Western Balkan countries and their impact on potential investors when choosing investment destinations.

Director Dimovski underscored that the new government, in collaboration with TIDZ, is actively working on creating a more attractive, sustainable, and competitive environment for foreign investors. He highlighted ongoing work on specific acts aimed at aligning Macedonia with global trends in attracting foreign direct investments and providing state aid.

“The new government places high priority on creating a new, attractive environment for attracting foreign investments. If we analyze the past few months, we can clearly see progress in this direction,” stated Dimovski.

“In terms of state aid, we are offering a comprehensive package of measures aimed at attracting high-quality foreign direct investments. These investments focus on high-tech production, establishing research and development centers, creating well-paid jobs, and boosting exports to add significant value to the economy,” he added.

Other panel speakers included Antje Wandel, representing AHK Macedonia, Despina Tumanoska from Finance Think, Lazar Nenezić from the Montenegrin Ministry of Regional Investment Development, Amela Kurta from the Center for Development and Research of Social Sciences (CDESS), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Pavle Medić from the Center for Advanced Economic Studies in Serbia.