GENERAL
Official name of the state
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Capital
Skopje.
Geography
According to topschoolsintheusa, Macedonia is a landlocked country and borders Kosovo and Serbia in the north, Albania in the west, Greece in the south and Bulgaria in the east.
Government
Republic since 1991. Constitution from 1991, last amendment 2005. Unicameral parliament with 120 members. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia declared independence in 1991.
Head of state
Djordje Ivanov, since May 2009.
Head of government
Nikola Gruevski, since January 2017.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
Central European Time: CET +2 (CET +3 from March 26 to October 29, 2017)
MONEY
Currency
Macedonian Denar = 100 Deni. Currency abbreviation: MKD (ISO code). Banknotes are available in denominations of 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 10 MKD. Coins to the value of 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 MKD as well as 50 Deni (only as collector’s item). Euros are also widely accepted as a means of payment.
Credit cards
Acceptance is limited, especially in Skopje and other larger cities. Withdrawals via ATM are usually easy in larger cities. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec- / Maestro-Karte / Sparcard
Cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted in Europe and worldwide, in Macedonia at ATMs and some shops, especially in Skopje and Ohrid. Further information from banks and credit institutes.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
Import and export of the local currency limited to 20,000 MKD.
No restrictions whatsoever when importing foreign currencies, obligation to declare amounts above € 10,000 (keep the receipt in a safe place). Export of foreign currencies up to a maximum of the declared amounts, minus the exchange amounts.
Currency Exchange
Euros and other western means of payment can be exchanged in local currency in any bank and in official exchange offices. Bringing euros in cash is recommended. Fees will be charged for exchanges in euros.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Macedonian (66.5%). The ethnic minorities speak Albanian (25.1%), Turkish (3.9%) and Serbo-Croatian (1.8%).
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following articles can be imported into Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic) duty-free:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (max. 3 g each) or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco (people aged 18 and over);
1 l of spirits with an alcohol content of over 22% (people aged 18 and over) or
2 l alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of less than 22% (people aged 18 and over);
2 l wine (people over 18 years of age);
Perfume (50 ml);
Eau de toilette (250 ml);
Gifts up to a total value of € 350 (excluding tobacco, alcoholic beverages and perfume).
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Correct clothing is expected. In comparison to other Yugoslav successor states, German and English are less common.
Business hours: Mo-Fr 07.00 / 08.00-15.00 / 16.00.
Economy
Trade Department of the Embassy of Macedonia
Hubertusallee 5, D-14193 Berlin
Tel: (030) 893 87 30.
Macedonian
Chamber of Commerce Dimitrie Cupovski 13, PO Box 324, MK-91000 Skopje
Tel: (02) 11 80 88.
Internet: www.mchamber. org.mk
Business contacts
Trade Department of the Embassy of Macedonia
Hubertusallee 5, D-14193 Berlin
Tel: (030) 893 87 30.
Macedonian
Chamber of Commerce Dimitrie Cupovski 13, PO Box 324, MK-91000 Skopje
Tel: (02) 11 80 88.
Internet: www.mchamber. org.mk
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Dial-up remote service.
Cellphone
GSM 900. Network operators are MOBIMAK (Internet: www.mobimak.com.mk) and COSMOFON. The reception / transmission area is limited to larger cities.
Internet
Main provider: Macedonia On-Line (Internet: www.mol.com.mk). There are some internet cafes in larger cities. Mobile surfing on the Internet is made possible by the Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots, which are subject to a charge (Internet: goodspeed.io/de/index.html).
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Embroidery, wood carving and pottery.
Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 8 am-8pm and Sat 8 am-3pm.
CULINARY
CULTURE
Religion
The majority of the population belongs to the Macedonian Orthodox Church (64.7%), which has its own head but is not recognized internationally. In addition, 33.3% Muslims (Albanians and Turks), a Serbian Orthodox minority and Catholics.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: Shake hands to greet you. The atmosphere is casual, and business negotiations take your time.
Photography: Airports, dams and military facilities are not allowed to be photographed. Corresponding warning signs are set up.
Smoking: Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in all public buildings and offices, as well as in restaurants and pubs.
Tipping: 10% tips are common in hotels, restaurants and taxis.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Continental climates, cold winters and hot summers.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +389 Area (sqkm) 25713 Population 2096015 Population density (per sqkm) 82 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 112
