Macedonia – PM Gruevski announces fresh package of anti-crisis measures on Tuesday. Read more

Macedonia – IPARD funds officially available to Macedonia. In the presence of ambassadors from the EU as well as ambassadors from the regional countries, the Macedonian government signed a financial treaty on the use of EU means from the IPARD programme. This means that Macedonian institutions got the right to dispose of EUR 42 million, which includes EUR 10 million from the Macedonian budget. Read more

Macedonia – Macedonia will protect brands of agricultural products. The Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture will stimulate Macedonian farmers to win the Balkan and European markets by selling protected geographical indication products. Perica Ivanovski, Macedonian deputy agriculture minister, met with all relevant persons in the agricultural sector. Read more

Macedonia – Macedonian Government set to announce fresh anti-crisis package. Vice Premier Pesevski said that about 20 measures would be proposed, some of which provided by the business community and others by ministries in the past two months. Read more

Macedonia – Measures will help, but will not solve problems. The fourth package of anti-crisis measures will help, but it will not solve crucial problems of the business sector in Macedonia.Professor Marija Zarezankova-Potevska claims the problem of the lack of financial means will remain unsolved. Even though credit lines are being offered, entrepreneurs cannot use them due to strict banking conditions. Read more

Macedonia – Good sign for Macedonian economy. Growth of foreign demand is a good sign for the Macedonian economy, states the latest report of Dun&Bradstreet for March. The rating of Macedonia remains at BD4b, which stands for a moderate risk. Read more

Macedonia – Few anti-crisis measures for agriculture. According to the Act on Agricultural Land, formation of an agricultural land fund should not be an anti-crisis measure, but rather a regular annual programme of the Macedonian government, says Macedonian Farmers’ Federation (FFRM). "Nonetheless, this measure should be praised, as it should create conditions for new working places in agriculture. Therefore, we hope that some social cases will change their unemployment status," the FFRM says. Read more

Macedonia – Creation of business climate according to Chamber's proposals. With the new fourth package of anti-crisis measures of the Government of the FYRMacedonia the business community from the Economic Chamber of FYRMacedonia gets positive respond to larger number of Proposals for improvement of the business climate in the Republic of Macedonia in 2010. Read more

Macedonia – MKD 71 million for support to organic agriculture. Organic agriculture will receive subsidies of MKD 71 million this year. Thus, MKD 3,500 will be allocated per hectare of land designated for organic farming. Read more

Macedonia – Macedonia increases its production of renewable energy. At the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU), an expert discussion on a base study for renewable energy sources was held on 11 March 2010, with the Minister of Economy, Fatmir Besimi, being present, as well as the director of the Energy Agency, Lazar Gečevski, academicians from MANU, professor Rubin Talevski, and representatives of companies and academic faculties. At the discussion, the Minister of Economy informed that stimulating investments in renewable energy, as well as the greater inclusion of the renewable energy sources in national energy consumption, were among the main strategic goals of the Macedonian government in the energy sector. Read more

Macedonia – Enough finances for private sector this year, bankers claim. Credit growth and support for businesses this year will be more significant. There will be enough finances for the private sector, bankers estimate. Read more

Montenegro – EUR 1bn for water and landfills. In the next 25 years, Montenegro will need around EUR 1bn for resolving the problems in water supply, construction of the communal structure, primarily sanitary landfills, and wastewater and waste management. Read more

Montenegro – EUR 100m more for the marina. Company Adriatic Marinas will invest additional EUR 100m in the construction of residential facilities and expand the marina in Porto Montenegro by 100 new berths. Owner of the company Peter Munk pointed out that this company has been present as an investor in Montenegro for four years. Read more

Montenegro – Montenegro: Exports -41.5% in 2009. The crisis has impacted heavily on the economy of Montenegro, where a drop in exports of 41.5% was recorded in 2009 compared to the previous year, whilst imports fell by 36.3%. As reported by the authorities in Podgorica, last year Montenegro exported goods to 60 counties, in particular to Serbia, Italy and Slovenia, whilst Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the primary countries for imports. Source

Montenegro – Without investments, there will be crisis and tourism will fall behind. The announcement of a campaign directed towards the region, in which cheap prices of private accommodation in Montenegro will be promoted, says at least two things – that the economic crisis is serious and that Montenegrin tourism is falling behind. Read more

Moldova – Energy efficiency is a priority for EIB financing in Moldova. Energy efficiency is a priority for the European Investment Bank (EIB) financing in Moldova. This was announced at a meeting with Moldovan Deputy Premier and Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar, by Constantin Synadino, the head of the division for energy, environment and small and medium-sized enterprises for Russia, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia of the department for Europe's neighbouring and partner countries of the European Investment Bank (EIB). Read more

Moldova – Turkish Businessmen To Invest 100 Mln Euro in Hospital, Wind Farm in Moldova. Two Turkish businessmen, Mete Bora and Sinan Bora, would invest about 100 million euro ($137 million) in the construction of a hospital and a wind farm in Moldova, the government in Chisinau said on Tuesday. Source

Regional – Slow Economic Growth Forecast for Region in 2010. The economies of the countries of Southeast Europe suffered significantly in the global economic crisis, but there are signs that they are beginning to gradually emerge from the difficult year and there is reason for cautious optimism in 2010. Read more

Regional – South-eastern Europe and the financial crisis. In a recent working paper, Peter Sanfey, lead economist at the EBRD, explains how the crisis evolved and how it has affected this region. Read more

Regional – Croatia leader in region, Serbia with better perspective. Croatia is presently economic leader of the West Balkans although even economists of that country believe that Serbia could become a regional economic center in the future. The key advantage of Croatia in relation to other countries of the region is that it is the closest to the EU membership. Read more

Regional – Fallout in the Balkans? With Greek banks having expanded throughout South Eastern Europe, countries in the region are worried about lending trends in the immediate future; while some in Greece are worried about the foreign policy implications of the Greek crisis. Read more

Regional – Public research institutes instrumental to upgrading Western Balkans competitiveness, concludes regional workshop. The role of public research institutes in technological development of the Western Balkan countries is instrumental to upgrading the competitiveness of the region, participants of a two-day South East European workshop agreed in Istanbul today. Read more

Regional – Eastern Europe still lags in attracting foreign investors. While painful for many, the current economic crisis provides an opportunity to assess Eastern European economies more than two decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It is also a chance to look at challenges and opportunities ahead. Read more

Regional – Greek crisis may wound southeast Europe. The Greek debt crisis is poised to undermine already dwindling investment flows into south-eastern Europe's emerging economies, adding to barriers to recovery in one of the continent's most fragile regions. Read more

Regional – SEE Renewable Energy Sector Able To Attract Billion-Euro Worth of Investments. The renewable energy sector in Southeast Europe (SEE) should be able to attract investments worth several billion euro in the coming years, according to an industry expert. Read more

Regional – EU Enlargement Commissioner to Visit Western Balkans. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele is set to begin his first Western Balkans tour on Wednesday, with scheduled stops in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo. Read more

Russia – Foreign Funds Take New Look at Russia. With a rebounding economy, resurgent commodity prices and a strengthening currency, Russia is beginning to cast itself in a more favorable light to foreign funds, which rapidly decreased their Russia exposure with the onset of the global financial crisis. Read more

Serbia – Serbia’s D&B rating improves. International agency Dun & Bradstreet noted an improvement in Serbia’s business rating in the company’s March report. For the first time, Serbia entered the group of countries considered to have a moderate business risk. Read more

Serbia – Foreign banks stressed their commitment to the Serbian market over the long term. Read more

Serbia – Belgrade to receive EUR 6m from the European Investment Bank. The City of Belgrade and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are going to sign a contract on the donation worth EUR 6m for the project of city reconstruction, which has to be utilized by 2015. Read more

Serbia – New measures to secure €1.3bn for economy. Read more

Serbia – EBRD and Societe Generale support economies in Serbia. The EBRD is boosting the availability of financing to the real economy sector in Serbia, with a €20 million credit line to Societe Generale Serbia for on-lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Read more

Serbia – Djelic: EIB to grant EUR 200 mln loan for science development. Read more

Serbia – “Vienna agreement important in crisis". Banks in Serbia are announcing that they will offer greater loan for support production of exports, but are expecting help from the state. Read more

Serbia – Serbia successfully implements interim trade agreement with EU. Read more

Serbia – Mercator to invest EUR 20m in Serbia. Slovenian retail chain Mercator plans to invest EUR 20 million in Serbia during this year and open over 27.000 square meters of new trade facilities. Last year Mercator invested EUR 45 million and opened 30.000 square meters of new trade facilities. Read more

Serbia – If Serbia continues to base its economic growth on excessive domestic spending; this could lead to the "Greek scenario". Read more

Serbia – Minister for the National Investment Plan (NIP) Verica Kalanovic said that all post global economic crisis development models for Serbia make infrastructure development a priority and a necessity for quicker growth. Read more

Serbia – Government wishes to make Serbian economy more competitive. Read more

Serbia – Foreigners wish to invest into Serbia. Companies from Germany, Italy, Greece, USA and Russia are interested in investing into Serbia, the Ambassadors of the above-mentioned countries said. Read more

Serbia – Ministers don't see eye to eye on crisis. Deputy Prime Ministers Mlađan Dinkić and Božidar Đelić expressed different opinions on ways for Serbia to overcome the economic crisis. Read more

Serbia - €9bln to be invested in energy sector. Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric said today that some €9 billion will be invested in the Serbian energy sector over the next five to seven years. Read more

Serbia – SNS: Government generating crisis. Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) official Nikola Selaković said that the government is generating a new crisis with its announced plans. Read more

Ukraine – Ministry of Finance: IMF may restore loan extension in Q2/2010. Read more

Ukraine – Ukraine will get EUR 470.1mln from EU. Read more

Ukraine – Economy should grow by 7% to have deficit free budget. Read more

Ukraine – FDI inflow may reach USD 5-6bn. Read more

Ukraine – ArcelorMittal to invest over $200 million in Ukraine mill. ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer, plans to invest $200 million to modernize and boost efficiency at its Ukrainian steel mill in 2010. Read more

Ukraine – IMF forecasts less than 10 percent inflation for Ukraine. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative in Ukraine Max Alier forecasts 2010 inflation of under 10% for Ukraine. Read more

Ukraine – 2010 inflation may top 10%. Read more

Ukraine – Currency market sees stabilization. Read more

Ukraine – Can new government coax investors back to Ukraine? Ukraine looked headed for slumdog billionaire status following the international acclaim it gained from its 2004 Orange Revolution, which put the country on the radar screen of foreign investors. Now, in the light of a punishing recession, depressed export markets and a global credit crunch, foreign direct investment is harder to come by. Read more

IN THIS ISSUE YOU WILL FIND ARTICLES WITH NEWS FROM:

REGIONAL (9), MACEDONIA (11), MONTENEGRO (4), MOLDOVA (2), RUSSIA (2), SERBIA (15) AND UKRAINE (9)