The cold of the start of the year, literally “nailed” the country in the ice, impassable roads and difficult movement, further damaging the domestic business, said most of the businessmen with whom we communicated yesterday. Weather conditions have been attached to the problems that the companies created by the political crisis, which as things stand now, will not be resolved at least in this and next month.
Some businessmen yesterday had the first working day of the year, following the merger of the New Year and Christmas holidays. Some, however, still not starting the working process for this year. All predict that January will bring positive growth of industrial production, partly because of the cold and poor performance, or the difficult transportation because of the weather, and partly due to congestion and the uncertainty of the political crisis.
Otherwise, this difficult January comes after last year brought two negative months in industrial production, at least according to what the last measure the State Statistical Office. That is, after October, industrial production decreased by 3.6 percent, a new drop of 4.9 percent was recorded in November. December is still no data, but given how companies worked, the figures will be published for the month, is not expected to produce positive surprises. In January of this year, however, it is forecast to be worse economically.
Angel Dimitrov, president of the Organization of Employers, for the ” Utrinski Vesnik” says the storm that hit the country is likely to have some impact on the decline in industrial production.
“Even companies that are not thought to merge holidays, bad weather now been forced to merge with already lost three to four working days, and some even longer will not work, it will have an impact on the volume of production. Some companies do not work to save oil, and part because of insecurity on the roads, as well as the principles of safety at work. I expect that it will affect the fall in industrial production in January compared to the same month last year, “said Dimitrov.
According to this businessman, further due to the political situation in the country in January, we can expect a bright outlook in the economy.
“Let’s hope that February will stabilize and weather conditions in the country and will reduce the uncertainty in the political situation, which should not happen. I expect that in February we will find a solution. The worst scenario that could happen, I think, is to undertake some kind of civil unrest or disobedience. I think as well as to resolve the situation, whoever forms the government, the other option should be understanding and not to create unrest. Even come to organize snap elections, it will not be terrible, but most important is to maintain peace and tranquility in the country, or safety. These are the most important conditions for business, “said Dimitrov.
Goran Antevski, director of “Rade Koncar – TEP” said yesterday that his company had the first working day of the year, so we could not specifically explain how the weather conditions reflect particular operation.
“Certainly there will be difficulties in transporting materials due to cold weather, and stopped and performing works of buildings and projects due to bad weather,” said Antevski.
The political situation, however, explains that because of the crisis, the business several months ago patter.
“Our company does not work with the state and does not face such problems due to the political crisis. But companies that are our customers and working with the state already have problems now less ordered products, “explains Antevski.
About how things will develop in the future, he said that in this country nothing can be predicted. And he stresses that the efforts of businessmen are well known, which means as soon as possible to form a government, and thus to enable continuous and smooth operation of the economy.
Otherwise, the domestic industry’s best and ‘walked in the first quarter last year, in January, February and March, when they realized monthly plus 8 percent, 15.2 percent and 8.9 percent respectively, followed by weaker results, or 3.6 percent growth in April and 5.3 percent in May. June brought the first decrease, a decline in industry by 4.4 percent, then again followed three months of recovery, ie July, August and September, with increments at 5.1 percent, 5.2 and 4.6 percent.But October and November brought two consecutive months of decline in industrial production. Viewed cumulatively for 11 months of last year, industrial production grew by an average 3.4 percent over the same period last year.
Nina Nineska-Fidanoski-from Utrinski Vesnik
2. Taken from Utrinski Vesnik-Mirce Jovanovski
Information useful for Employers
The founder of the Forum, Klaus Schwab, in his address before this prestigious gathering of leading business people and politics in the world, stands out five priorities for the leaders in the coming year.
“True leadership in complex, uncertain and disturbing world requires leaders to move with the radar system and the compass. They must be attentive to signals that keep coming from the changing landscape, and should be prepared to make the necessary adjustments; but they must never deviate from their true direction – a strong vision that is based on authentic values, “said Schwab, adding that therefore the focus of this year’s forum is open and responsible leadership.
While leaders in government, business and civil society, he points out five key challenges which, according to him, will preoccupy their attention.
First, he stands fourth industrial revolution, which was one of the subjects last year. It comes to the challenges arising from the new technologies that redefined entire industries, and related to advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of things, autonomous cars, 3D- printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and quantum computers.
Schwab said that these technologies began to show its full potential and that this year we are more science fiction will become reality.
“But while the fourth industrial revolution can help us solve some of our biggest problems, it also divides society into those who embrace change and those who do not accept,” said Schwab.
Second, he said, leaders will need to build a dynamic, comprehensive system of global governance with multiple stakeholders, and the third challenge relates to the efforts to restore global economic growth. “Permanently reduced growth turns continuously lower living standard: a 5 percent annual growth, it will take only 14 years to double the country’s GDP; with 3 percent growth, it would take 24 years. If continued stagnation, our children and grandchildren can live worse than their predecessors, “said Schwab.
The fourth challenge, it will be reforming market capitalism, like the return of the compact between business and society. Finally, leaders will have to deal with the deepening crisis affecting the formation of identity as a result of the erosion of traditional norms in the past two decades. “Globalization has made the world smaller, but more complex, and many people have lost trust in institutions. Many people fear for their future, and they are looking for common but different beliefs that can provide a sense of purpose and continuity, “said Schwab.
It would be at least some of these messages to take into consideration and our leaders, whether it is people who will head the next government, the ministries, or on managerial positions in some institutions which decide on common problems such as for example snow.