In her first official visit to the Municipality of Stip, the Netherlands Ambassador, H.E Simone Filippini was welcomed by the Mayor Pande Sarev and the President of the Council Dragi Iliev. They discussed the economic importance of Stip as a centre for the Macedonian garment industry. Many textile companies in Stip have links to the Dutch textile industry supported through the involvement of the Dutch programme CBI in Stip. CBI's activities aim at assisting Macedonian textile companies in transforming their production process in order to be able to compete on the European market and have direct access to EU markets. On a previous occasion, the Ambassador had the opportunity to visit two of the companies that take part in the CBI programme (BEAS and Maxima).
The garment industry will continue to play a vital economic role in the trade exchange between the Netherlands and Macedonia hence there is a need to ensure a constant flow of educated labor. The Ambassador offered the assistance of CBI and other Dutch institutions in adapting and introducing a new curriculum in line with the demands of the textile industry and to reinforce local training capacities. You can find a report on the participation of textile companies in a Fair in Rotterdam in November 2007 at this website. 

Information was also exchanged on some of the recent developments within the Municipality such the planned construction of the cargo airport and wind turbines as well as the plans for the establishment of a free economic zone in the area. The Mayor stressed the importance of improving infrastructure in this part of Macedonia to ensure better and faster logistics. Some of the other important issues that the Municipality is currently facing relate to the process of decentralization and specifically to the transfer of responsibilities with regard to education and land ownership. Activities are continuing through ZELS to overcome this issues.

The Mayor further informed the ambassador of the efforts of the Municipality to search for strategic partners and investors for the thermal baths "Kezovica" and the completion of construction of the hydro electric power plant "Otinja". More information on these project and on Stip in general can be found in the "Stip Guidebook" that was developed by the Dutch organization SNV in cooperation with the Municipality.

As from Friday, 8 February, a delegation from the Dutch city of Haarlemeermeer will visit Stip to discuss possible long term Twinning. One of the possible fields of co-operation is waste management.

As part of the visit to the Municipality of Stip, the Netherlands Ambassador also visited the 'Bargala' shoe factory and "Multikrem" confectionary production and also met with the owner of 'Lars' vegetable drying facility. The purpose of the visit was to receive additional information on the potential of the Municipality in cooperating with Dutch companies.

Bargala Shoe Factory

"Bargala Shoes" ( www.bargala.net) is part of the Bargala Group that is specialized in the production of women's, mans and children's shoes but also military shoes. It has a yearly capacity of 1,200,000 pairs of shoes and exports most of its production to EU markets, mainly Italy. The company also has a modeling studio which is used to design its own range of shoes that are sold in the domestic and foreign markets. "Bargala" has extensive experience in dealing with foreign partners and is also interested in finding trading partners from the Netherlands.
The General Manager of Bargala Group, Mr. Kostadin Barzov, provided additional information of the other companies within the Group that include Agrobar- Vinica for the production of agricultural mechanization, local TV station Iris, Hotel Garni and saving house Al Kosa.
For more information on any of the companies please contact  bargala@mt.net.mk.


Multikrem

"Multikrem" ( www.multikrem.com.mk) is a confectionary production facility owned by Mr Sande Davcev. It produces a wide range of products for local and regional markets and has some experience in dealing with EU markets such as Greece and Bulgaria. The company is currently looking for strategic partners to broaden the product range and for joint investments in expanding production facilities. The instruments for supporting trade between the Netherlands and Macedonia - Matchmaking instrument and PSOM programme were presented as possibilities in initiating contacts and providing possibilities for joint investments with Dutch companies. Mr. Davcev also informed of some of the issues faced by local companies with regard to the business enabling environment.

Lars Drying facility

"Lars" ( www.susaralars.com.mk) vegetable drying facility, as managed by Mr. Darko Naskov, is a long standing partner of the Dutch vegetable drying company "Dika" BV. "Lars" has extensive experience in exporting to EU markets and the two partner companies have been discussing possibilities for expanding production capabilties within the facility in Stip as a result of the successful cooperation over the past years. Views were also exchanged with regard to the existing business enabling environment for the agricultural industry in relation to the trade links between the Netherlands and Macedonia.