Talks are underway with a Chinese company planning to invest EUR 140 million, which could open 1,400 jobs in Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski says for the leading Chinese newspaper in English language.

"At the moment there are not many Chinese investors with greenfield plants in Macedonia. Our greenfield investors are mainly from Germany, US, Britain, Italy, Belgium and other countries. We still don't have such significant investment ­ building a plant for manufacturing particular product and its exporting ­ from China. However, we are negotiating at the moment with several companies. Two days ago I had a meeting with a company, which intends to invest EUR 140 million in Macedonia that could open 1,400 jobs. Other companies also wish to come to (Macedonia)," the Prime Minister says.

"Many companies express the interest to invest in Macedonia. At the moment we are negotiating with at least 10 Chinese companies, which expressed serious intention for projects and investments in Macedonia. We offer to your Government to open if necessary a zone in which we will invite Chinese companies to invest in Macedonia under special conditions and I believe the talks are moving into the right direction. Macedonia is a small country of two million people, consumers. But we have free trade agreements with all European EU and non­EU countries, except Russia...This is rather favorable for Macedonia, as instead of a market of two million, we have a market of 660 million consumers. Many companies use our country as a door to the European market," Gruevski says.

Thus far, Macedonia and China have been cooperating in the infrastructure projects, supported by the Chinese development funds. It is a high time for this cooperation to also cover direct Chinese investments in Macedonia's industry, Gruevski says.

Last week PM Gruevski attended the 4. Summit of Heads of Government of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and PR China (16+1) in Beijing.