Gerberich: Germany will continue to provide support as previously

German Ambassador to Skopje Thomas Gerberich in regard to European Council’s decision not to open EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, said that the country is part of Europe and deserves nothing less than full EU membership.

“. Please continue with these reforms and convince anyone who may have any doubts about your path to the EU,” Gerberich said Wednesday at cornerstone laying ceremony for the construction of Gerresheimer plant in free economic zone – Bunardzik Skopje.

The Skopje plant will be Gerresheimer’s fiGermany will continue to provide support as previouslyrst in South-Eastern Europe. Gerresheimer has production facilities in North and South America as well as in Europe and Asia.

PM Zoran Zaev, Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Kocho Angjushev, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and Free Zones Authority Director Aleksandar Mladenovski are to address cornerstone laying ceremony for the construction of Gerresheimer plant.

The plant will initially manufacture medical plastic systems prior to adding prefillable glass syringes lines following a further expansion phase. Up to 400 jobs may be created in the medium term.

The agreement was signed in March 2019, and the new investment was then announced by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Kocho Angjushev.

It is expected that start of production will take place in the second half of 2020.

“As part of our growth strategy, we require additional manufacturing capacity and are expanding our European production network. We will build a new plant in Skopje to produce plastic systems for the pharmaceutical industry and the medical technology sector as well as prefillable syringes. North Macedonia is an ideal location for expanding our production. The country offers good infrastructure, cost structures, trained personnel and excellent support from the authorities,” said Dietmar Siemssen, Chief Executive Officer of Gerresheimer AG.

Gerresheimer is a leading global partner to the pharma and healthcare industries. The company’s special glass and plastic products contribute to health and well-being. Gerresheimer is a global organization with about 10,000 employees and manufacturing operations in the local markets, close to customers. With plants in Europe, North and South America and Asia Gerresheimer generates revenues of approximately EUR 1.4 billion.