BIRN Fact-check: North Macedonia Investment Prediction Almost on the Money

Four, not five

During Q3 2019, three new factories were opened and construction began on another, meaning Zaev's short-term investment promise of at least five was over-optimistic but almost on the money.

At the same time, three other companies signed contracts with the government to open two new factories and one new IT centre.

On October 29, Turkish Purplast, a producer of plastic parts for cars, signed a lease on development land for a new 12 million euro factory. The start of construction was said to be imminent and the factory would employ 300 people.

Two days later, Swiss Baumer, which manufactures sensors, measuring and navigation instruments used in the automotive and aviation industry, opened a new factory near the capital, Skopje.

The investment amounted to 4.7 million euros and 150 new jobs in the initial phase, with prospects for further growth. There is talk too of an R&D centre in the country employing up to 500 workers if the initial investment proves successful.

The arrival of two new car-parts producers is a positive sign for North Macedonia, which already hosts a handful of factories churning out parts for the automotive industry, including Belgian bus producer Van Hool near Skopje.

Attracting similar companies - which often bring with them high-tech production and know-how at low environmental cost - is seen as a priority for a country where industrial output is currently heavily reliant on the polluting metal producing sector.

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new cattle farm near Prilep called Gold Land. Photo: gov.mk

Russians, Germans, Czechs

November passed without any significant investment announcements, but December made up for it.