Meeting with Netherlands embassy at the DCC office
After our last meeting with Mr. Govert W. Visser, Counselor, Deputy Head of Mission, we had a meeting in DCC office at February 4, with the Dutch Ambassador, H. E. Mrs. Simone Filippini, Mr. Govert W. Visser and Mr. Pance Kralev, the economy deputy into the Embassy regarding the future cooperation of DCC and the Embassy on all fields.

This has been the first official meeting with the new Dutch ambassador H.E. Mrs. Simone Filippini.
We had a open talk about DCC their activities and possible future cooperation between the embassy and DCC.
Also we updated each other about our activities and future plans.

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Inside talk with Honor member Jerry Chundro

Peter Bosse & Jerry Chundro

Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Jerry Chundro. I was born in 1963 on the caribbean island of Curaçao, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since 1991 I work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague, Netherlands. As of October 2004 I am working at the Audit Department in The Hague. I have a financial background. After buying an apartment in the Hague and refurbishing it for 9 months, I decided to use my remaining free time during this posting in the Netherlands to do something useful, so I started studying again. This summer I will finish my post masters studies as a Chartered Controller/Exec. Master of Finance and Control at the TIASNimbas Business School of the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. After this summer I will be positioned at another embassy somewhere; at the moment it is not known yet where that will be.

What is or was your connection with Macedonia?
Before my current job, I was working at the Holandska Ambasada in Makedonia from 2001-2004. Some of you may know me as the Head of Operations and Consular Affiars during that time.

What is your opinion about Macedonia as a country and the people?
My wife and I really love Makedonija. We where overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality of everyone. Before we arrived in Skopje in 2001 we where warned by some people not to go as there was an ethnic conflict and people might react strange to us. Well, I am very glad we still went to Makedonija. We had a very good time. Yes, people in general where very curious who we where (I know I look a bit strange for a Dutchman), but they where also easy so get in touch with and have conversations. Although we have not been back since 2004, we still have a lot of friends in Skopje. Makedonija is not big and it is landlocked, but that did not hold us back to discover its beauty. There are a lot of possibilities to spend one's time in a nice way. Archaeological sites, eco-tourism, Lake Ohrid and Prespa, Mavrovo, nice Monasteries and Mosques on top of the hills, the list goes on..... In the hey are poor, but live in balance with nature and their surroundings. I respect that.
Because of all the different ethnic groups there is a rich cultural diversity. As a musician for example I enjoyed the collaboration between ethic- Albanian, Roma and ethnic-Macedonian musicians. The result is a genuine and truly unique type of music, which proves that by working together great things can happen!

You saw the work of DCC and their matchmaking missions to the Netherlands,
how important is this according you?
In a free market economy it is always a good thing if traders and businessmen organize themselves. It is up to governments to create an enabling environment, good macro-economic conditions such as an acceptable inflation rate and positive GDP growth, attractive tax-regimes, implement International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), etc, etc. But the real deals have to be closed business-to-business, taking into acccount the local environment, opportunities and threats and the strenght and weaknesses of their own companies and products. DCC can help to bring the Macedonian businessmen in direct contact with interesting parties in the Benelux or elsewhere and to explore the opportunities and possibilities for investing in Macedonia.

If you had a choice for business would you consider Macedonia as a good
choice? And if yes why?
Of course! There are sufficient reasons for investors. To name only a few:
Location, Location, Location! In the middle of the Balkan with close proximity to the EU-states and markets. Acceptable labour prices and availability of a fairly skilled labour force. Good climate, well suitable for agro-business. Plenty of space, e.g. between the airport and the city for industrial zones. In the near future Macedonia is moving towards NATO and EU-membership. Compared to a few years ago there is an increased focus on trade and investments between Macedonia and other EU-countries and the business climate has improved. The government is pro business and economic growth orientated, has implemented structural economic reforms and is expected to further continue to do so and stimulates foreign direct investments in Macedonia.