FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AS DEVELOPMENT FACTOR FOR OVERCOMING ECONOMIC STAGNATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

Amongst economists there is a broad consensus that in order to overcome economic stagnation the economic growth model should be more directed towards increasing investments and export and less reliant on consumption. The stable commitment towards improving the business ambient, the implementation of structural reforms in the field of competitiveness, the export sector as well as investments in infrastructure and education are the fundamental prerequisites to be realized for the opening of perspectives in the overall social development of the countries in the Western Balkans, including the Republic of Macedonia. The dominant driving force of economic growth – investments (foreign and domestic) have not been sufficiently implemented so that structural economic problems such as the low GDP growth rate, unsatisfactory export, unfavourable industrial structure have been present during the entire periodsince the independence of the Republic of Macedonia. Unlike other countries in Middle and Eastern Europe such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in which foreign capital was steered towards manufacturing higher added value products, in the Republic of Macedonia investment entered mainly the trade and the banking industry, and quite less in manufacturing.
Lacking own significant capacities for considerable increase of the gross-investment rate, assets sources for investments must be found in foreign accumulation, particularly via foreign direct investments so as not to increase the degree indebting the country. The global economic and financial crisis which spread over Europe in the last years has motivated the countries in the Western Balkans, including the Republic of Macedonia, to engage into a more active and more aggressive attraction of foreign capital. Foreign direct investments are considered the highest economic priority for long-term development, whereas the benefits to the national economy are multiple and influence the reduction of unemployment, increase of export, inflow of new technology, knowledge and skills, as well as improvement of the population’s living standard. However, despite the commitment, reforms and activities undertaken to attract FDI, the countries of the Western Balkans are facing remarks from investors for having an insufficiently reformed judicial system, bureaucratic issues, inefficient public administration and corruption. Therefore, it is essential to work continually on improving the macroeconomic environment and implement a long-term strategy to attract FDI through active policies.