The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today visited the Municipality of Ilinden in Skopje and met with Mayor Zika Stojanovski and Municipal Counselors, as well as with thirty businessmen - members of the Economic Forum of the Municipality. The President was informed on the ongoing and implemented projects in the municipality and on the achieved results.

 
”The Municipality of Ilinden is a positive example for the other municipalities on how to use all potentials and ensure prosperity for the citizens”, President Ivanov said, welcoming the positive changes he saw during his today’s visit to the Municipality of Ilinden

and their successful practices that contributed to increased investment and creation of new jobs.

 
”The fact that only within one year, 1,000 new jobs have been opened in Ilinden speaks for itself”, the President said.

 
The Head of State visited the eco-house in Kadino, energy independent facility with built system of solar collectors integrated in the electricity - energy system of the household. The owner Zvonko Markovski presented the advantages and great savings from investing in energy production eco-systems.

 
President Ivanov visited the Flour and Frozen Dough Factory “Kadino Industry Group” and the object under construction – complex of plants “Pekabesko” for meat processing and production. According to him, all the efforts and reforms implemented give results, seeing the business as an opportunity for people to secure their safe existence and prosperity.

”According to the latest World Bank report “Doing Business 2012”, Macedonia each year marks a progress and is an attractive destination for foreign investment. This suggests that at a time of global economic crisis, when many economies stagnate, Macedonia has something to offer and it is evident”, President Ivanov stressed. The Report ranks Macedonia as the third top reformer in doing business. According to the global ranking, the country this year rose by 12 positions from the 34th to the 22nd position, and is the best ranked country in the Western Balkans, better than 19 EU member states.

 
Wrapping up the visit to the Municipality of Ilinden, President Ivanov stressed that he was told by the business community that the Mayor and the Counselors of the Municipality of Ilinden respond quickly to their needs, primarily aimed at improving the infrastructure, providing the necessary documentation to carry out their business projects, and the necessary support.

Mayor Zika Stojanovski said that this visit means for them even stronger commitment to project implementation and added that they have excellent cooperation with the central government, with the Government and with all institutions, as well as with the civil society and the business sector.

 
During the visit of the Municipality of Ilinden, the President visited the village Marino and had an opportunity to meet and talk with the residents of this village. In the Municipality of Ilinden there are 12 settlements, approximately 16,000 residents and about 750 commercial entities.