Director Dimovski in an interview for the PARI portal: New investment in TIDZ Skopje this month

Director Dimovski in an interview for the PARI portal: New investment in TIDZ Skopje this month

On May 17, the foundation stone of a new factory in TIDZ Skopje will be laid, which will produce heating systems for the needs of the company “Beko”. The investment, in the first phase, will amount to more than 25 million euros, and will provide 200 new jobs. In addition, multinational companies have already made an internal decision to invest in Macedonia, so there will be positive information about new investments and new factories, says in an interview for the PARI portal, the director of the Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones, Goce Dimovski.

When asked about the government visit to the UAE, about the knowledge of the Balkans and Macedonia’s potential for investment and business, as well as the interest in cooperation on the part of the local authorities and companies, the director replied:

The purpose of this visit of the government delegation, which was led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, was to hold bilateral meetings with high-ranking representatives of the United Arab Emirates, in order to present the opportunities that we offer as a country, which will strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. Given the fact that I was also part of the government delegation, I can say that we had very fruitful and successful meetings that will mean strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. At those meetings, the government delegation presented investment opportunities in Macedonia, so the conclusion from all the meetings is that the UAE representatives expressed serious interest in the investment opportunities offered by Macedonia.

Namely, the first serious positive indicator is the fact that during the visit of the government delegation to the UAE, the abolition of visas was requested and this request was immediately accepted by the UAE, so that soon the concrete implementation of the decision on visa-free travel will affect a stronger economy, free travel and strengthening of mutual partnership. The conclusion is that this government is fighting in every possible way to help our citizens, and to bring changes for a better common future with each passing day.

Regarding the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump and how they will affect Macedonia, specifically for operations in the TIDZ:

This move, where the general tariff of 10% is in force for us as a country, is certainly positive for the entire Macedonian economy, including companies in the TID zones. At the same time, according to the information I have, I can confirm that government representatives are in constant contact with representatives of the State Department, all with the aim of obtaining the most favorable level of tariffs from the United States.

Pari: In a recent statement, the Minister of Finance indicated that for now there is a problem (which is being resolved), with only one company that directly depends on exports to the United States. Are there any announcements about laying off workers, about moving production?

Dimovski: As I mentioned earlier, government representatives are in constant contact with representatives of the State Department. According to the information we have as DTIDZ, as of today, there are no such announcements. Namely, it is true that only one company in the TID zones directly depends on exports to the US, but according to the communication I have with that company, there are currently no such announcements.

Regarding the question of how much is the export from the zones to the US, Dimovski replied:

According to the data we have as DTIDZ, exports directly to the US compared to other exports are very small, because most of the exports from companies in the TID zones are directed to European Union countries. That is, exports directly to the US amount to about 2% of the total exports of companies in the zones for 2024.

Pari: What can be expected if, after the 90-day suspension, the first decision of the US president comes into force again and the rate for Macedonia remains at 33 percent? What is the worst possible scenario?

Dimovski: Several scenarios are possible, but according to the information I have, I believe that there is no need to panic, because our government representatives are in constant communication with representatives of the State Department, so I expect that positive information about Macedonia and the Macedonian economy regarding customs duties with the US will be shared in the coming period.

Pari: In a TV appearance, you stated that you found the TIDZ Directorate in a worse state than you expected and knew. What did you inherit?

Dimovski: To be honest, I inherited the DTIDZ in a much, much worse state than I expected and had information about.

I inherited an institution that has serious systemic problems, concluded agreements that are, above all, harmful and unproductive, with a high amount of ongoing investments, with many unresolved property-legal and formal-legal matters. The general conclusion is that I inherited a very bad situation that reflects the system that has been eroding in Macedonia for more than 30 years.

What I am seriously focused on during my period of management of DTIDZ is, together with all employees, to give serious emphasis to DTIDZ simply becoming an exemplary institution. What I can emphasize is the fact that we ended 2024 with the best average satisfaction score of companies in the history of DTIDZ and also, DTIDZ had a strong jump in integrity, which placed it in 15th place out of a total of 50 institutions, which is recognized among the best institutions in the fight against corruption. The achieved result of DTIDZ represents a significant increase by one level, from an “average” level to a “good” level, compared to 2023, when the percentage of fulfillment was 39%, while in 2024 that percentage was 61%.

What is last year’s balance in the zones, specifically, how much is the engaged workforce, what is the average salary, what is the volume of production and export?

Dimovski: According to the analyses we conduct on a monthly basis, the current number of direct employees in companies in the TID zones is around 18,000, but it is important to note that there is also a serious number of indirect employees. These are, above all, people employed in Macedonian companies that have some kind of business cooperation with companies in the TID zones in terms of procurement of works, services or goods.

In terms of the total export of companies that operate in the TID zones for 2024, the export amounts to around 3.2 billion euros. Or, compared to the total export in Macedonia, it amounts to around 39% of the total export in Macedonia. It is very important to note that the net amount for 2024 from the TID zones is with a positive balance, we have more exports than imports, unlike the total net export in Macedonia which is with a negative balance, i.e. we have more imports than exports.

The average net salary paid by companies in the TID zones for February 2025 is around 48,500 denars.

Pari: Some time ago you said that the Irish-American company APTIV is withdrawing due to their restructuring plan on a global level. Then information appeared that Johnson Matthey would also reduce employees. That was in February, what has happened since then?

Dimovski: We are in constant communication with the company APTIV and according to the latest information from their side, there are certain shifts in their restructuring plan. What I can say now is that APTIV is seriously negotiating with a serious multinational company that wants to buy APTIV Macedonia in its entirety as a legal entity, all in order for that multinational company to be present in Macedonia, i.e. to have its own production in the TID zones. Regarding Johnson Matthey, I can say that the company is one of the best companies in Macedonia in many aspects, and according to the information I have, I can inform you that the company plans to modernize its production in Macedonia.

Pari: The Prime Minister said that 2025 would be a year of quality foreign investments. What are your announcements, are there any specific talks and negotiations?

Dimovski: Given the fact that we ended 2024 with more than 1.2 billion euros in foreign investment inflow, making this figure a record in the history of independent Macedonia, our goal and commitment is for 2025 to continue with greater dynamics, all with the aim of attracting as many quality foreign investments as possible.

According to the communication with potential investors so far, the conclusion is that the companies have very serious plans for investment, so this month, that is, on May 17, we will have a cornerstone laying ceremony for a new factory in TIDZ Skopje. It is an investment that in the first phase alone will amount to more than 25 million euros with 200 new jobs. It is a company that will produce heating systems for the needs of the company BEKO, the most famous manufacturers of white goods in the world. At the same time, I can confirm that serious multinational companies have already made an internal decision to invest in Macedonia, so that in the period that follows, the public will be appropriately informed with positive information about the new investments, i.e. factories.

The average satisfaction score of companies in the TIDZ for 2024 is a high 4.48. What new do the zones offer in terms of attracting foreign investors? On the other hand, what is being done to retain companies that are already here?

Dimovski: As the director of DTIDZ, I can say that I am truly proud of all employees of DTIDZ due to the fact that for the first time in the history of DTIDZ we have a high annual average satisfaction score for companies. This is just an additional motivation for me and all employees at DTIRZ to continue working even better, in order for the users, i.e. companies, to be more satisfied with DTIDZ.

As DTIDZ, we offer a serious package of measures for every company that plans to invest, i.e. open a production factory in the zones. In addition to the package of state aid and other benefits, we offer complete care to users from every aspect, all with one goal, and that is for every company to see us as a serious partner that they can always count on.

The surveys of the Council of Foreign Investors, i.e. the results of them, indicate that things in the country are difficult to change. The problems they point to are regularly repeated in the answers: lack of professional staff, increased operating costs, bureaucracy, inadequate treatment of institutions, corruption… Where is it failing? Is there a lack of will to deal with the burning problems, or?

Dimovski: All these things represent a type of systemic problems that, unfortunately, no one has managed to overcome, i.e. solve, for more than 30 years. What I am sure of is that this Government headed by Hristijan Mickoski, has the necessary wisdom, knowledge, energy and modern patriotism to finally put an end to this devastated system that has existed for more than 30 years. We just have to be honest, solving the systemic problems in Macedonia will take time, but I believe in one thing – this Government has the will to deal with all the burning systemic problems inherited from the past.