Suits and ties are correct attire for men, with skirt, blouse and tights the accepted attire for women. English, French and German are spoken in most business circles.
Office hours:Mon-Fri 0730-1530.
Economy:Macedonia's economy has been undermined by regional strife - the civil war in the neighbouring Serbian province of Kosovo, instability in Albania and, most recently, the conflict between the government and Albanian nationalists - which has also deterred investment from the region. The economy shrank consistently throughout the 1990s; in 2001, it contracted by 5%.
However, by 2004, the economy began to grow, with annual growth reaching 3.6% in 2005. The new government elected in 2006 pledged to increase growth to 7%. In 2006, the growth rate remained around the 3% mark.
Unemployment remains exceptionally high at around 36%, with the result that a thriving black economy (a characteristic of most of the southern Balkans) is operating.
GDP:US$5.6 billion (2006).
Main exports:Steel, iron, textile products, tobacco, food and beverages.
Main imports:Machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels and food products.
Main trading partners:Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Italy and Russia.
All telecommunications services are generally working normally.
Mobile phone:Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mostly good.
Internet:There are a few Internet cafes in the main towns.
Post:Services work normally.
Media:The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and access to information.
• The main daily newspapers are Dnevnik, Utrinski Vesnik, Nova Makedonija and Vecer (an evening paper).
• Weekly papers include Focus and Aktuel.
• The Macedonian Times comes out monthly in English and Macedonian.
• State-owned MTV operates three national networks and a satellite network.
• Private channels include A1 and Kanal 5.
• Macedonia Radio is state owned.
• Kanal 77 and Antenna 5 are private national stations.
