Greek investments in the Republic of Macedonia
The Republic of Macedonia generally has good relations with Greece and enjoys substantial inward investment from Greece. However, the naming dispute has inhibited the establishment of full diplomatic relations so far but has not prevented both countries from engaging in military and security co-operation, cross-border investments, and cultural exchanges.[1]
Background
Since the end of the Greek embargo, which lasted between February 1994 and September 1995, Greece has become one of the most important business partners of the Republic of Macedonia. Greece is the fourth most important investor in the country (12.1% of total foreign direct investments), behind the Netherlands, Slovenia and Hungary.[2]
The acquisitions of Stopanska Bank by the National Bank of Greece, the OKTA refinery by Hellenic Petroleum, and the mobile operator Cosmofon by the Greek Cosmote Group are some of the largest Greek business undertakings in the Republic of Macedonia so far.[3]
According to an interview by then Finance Minister and today's prime minister Nikola Gruevski Greek investment took off after other Western investors were scared off by the 1999 Kosovo crisis:
In the 1999 Kosovo crisis, Western investors and trading partners escaped. Greek investors, who know this region better, came in and picked up enterprises at bargain basement prices. I hope investors from other countries learned the lesson. Since the current crisis started, we have sold our biggest bakery – Zhito Lux – and our biggest fairgrounds – Skopski Saem – to Greek and Slovenian investors. The new owners of Macedonia's largest bank, Stopanska Banka, (National Bank of Greece) are planning to increase the capital.[4]
Additionally by 1999 Greek exports to the Republic of Macedonia had reached the $1.32-billion mark.[5]
2006 Developments
The November 2006 European Commission report states that, "In December 2005 the two countries opened an Office for Consular, Economic and Trade Relations in Bitola and a Consulate in Thessaloniki respectively. Co-operation has developed in many areas, including transport, health, security, culture and customs. However, there has been no progress on the name issue which remains an open problem. Renewed efforts are needed, with a constructive approach, to find a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution on the name issue with Greece, under the auspices of the UN, within the framework of UN Security Council Resolutions (EEC) No 817/93 and (EEC) No 845/93, thereby contributing to regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations."[6]
2007 Developments
The total value of Greek investment in the Republic of Macedonia in the last three years has declined. In the first half of 2007 it reached $6 million, less than the corresponding amounts in previous years. Greek investment had peaked in 2004 at over $30 million a year. .[3] Nonetheless according to newspaper Eleutheros Typos by the start of 2007 about 263 million USD had been invested by Greeks. Of the 20 most sizable investments in the country 17 are financed with Greek capital and over 20,000 (about 6% of the workforce) are employed in Greek-owned enterprises . At the time 28% of Greek investments were in banking, 25% in the energy sector, 17% in telecommunications, 15% in industry and 10% in food.
Active Greek companies
- Alpha Bank Skopje - subsidiary of the Greek bank, Alpha Bank.
- OKTA oil refinery - part of Hellenic Petroleum.
- Stopanska Banka - National Bank of Greece holds a majority stake of the company.
- Delta S.A. Dairy company.
- Titan Cement - Cement producing company from Athens.
- KAPNIKI MICHAILIDIS S.A - Tobacco industry.