Dr. Thomas Michael Baier, Austrian Ambassador to Macedonia, and Gerhard Schlattl, Commercial Attaché and head of Advantage Austria, discuss ties between the two countries.
European Times: Can you describe the relationship between Austria and Macedonia?
Dr. Thomas Michael Baier: Austria strongly supports Macedonia’s progress towards joining the EU and believes negotiations should begin as soon as possible. The most important thing to remember is that Macedonia meets the requirements for EU accession, and all potential issues need to be dealt with within the negotiation process.
European Times: What are some of the challenges facing investors in Macedonia?
Dr. Thomas Michael Baier: Prior to starting their investments, investors should be very well informed on the legal situation and the way laws are being enacted. The Government needs to make sure that more emphasis is put on legal institutions’ performance, which subsequently would generate more trust.
Gerhard Schlattl: In 2013, Advantage Austria conducted a Business Climate Survey among Austrian investors in Macedonia, asking them about the challenges and obstacles that they face here. The top challenges for investors, according to this survey, are bad payment behaviour, infrastructure, fighting against corruption, perspective on EU accession, and customs and administrative procedures.
European Times: What is your advice for improving the business climate in Macedonia?
Gerhard Schlattl: Macedonia offers potential for investment in a wide variety of sectors. I hope that the Macedonian government will step up its support for smaller companies, especially for ones that provide services and products for the local market.
It is not all about attracting people to invest in Macedonia; it is about how you treat them when they are here. Sectors with potential include energy, especially for small-scale hydropower plants; food-processing; and tourism, among others.
European Times: How do you cooperate with international organizations in order to attract more investment and help the development of Macedonia?
Dr. Thomas Michael Baier: Up to the end of 2012, Macedonia had bilateral cooperation with the Austrian Development Assistance program. This program is still active on a regional basis. Of course, EBRD and EU, via their IPA funds, are tendering big projects here, and we then proactively inform Austrian companies and institutions that have interest in doing business in the region. Just recently, we had two successful twinning projects as well; one dealing with the education of Roma citizens and one dealing with unemployment and employment policy.
European Times: How do you think Macedonia will evolve over the coming three to five years?
Dr. Thomas Michael Baier: Since the Macedonian Government is very committed to bringing Macedonia into the EU, the Austrian Embassy’s actions are mostly related to the EU accession process, primarily through the High Level Accession Dialogue. All investment should be built on the belief that the accession process will continue, and Macedonia will be a member of European Union family, where it belongs.
