The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in Skopje today officially opened the European challenge in entrepreneurship, organized by Junior Achievement - Young Enterprise Europe, which is hind for the first time in our country, under his patronage.

"In times of economic crisis and the steady growth of unemployment among young people as a particularly vulnerable socio-economic category, it is the European challenge that will assure us that with proper education and motivation, there are no crises and limitation of entrepreneurial thinking", President Ivanov said at the opening of the event.

70 young entrepreneurs and students from 12 European countries, under the mentorship of their professors and with the support of the business volunteers will present a total of 16 business ideas to the international jury. This competition is part of Junior Achievement Start Up Program, which is implemented globally and in 2011 it has mobilized more than 3,000,000 young entrepreneurs.

The purpose of the challenge is to enable young entrepreneurs to develop innovative business concepts that will be presented to the international jury consisted of managers of corporations and companies, but also to potential investors, each of them having fictional € 100,000 to invest. The best project idea this year will receive an award of € 1,000, and special prizes from the sponsors Intel, TTK Bank and the Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning Support Centre.

At the official opening of the challenge, President Ivanov said that Macedonia has been intensively working on educating young people to develop entrepreneurial skills, and the general potentials in the economy.

"The role of all non-governmental organizations in this area is welcome, especially when international networks with extensive experience and successful practice are involved", President Ivanov said who visited the stands of young entrepreneurs from Macedonia and Europe.

Jasmina Maneva, executive director of the NGO Economic Education - Junior Achievement Macedonia, and a host of today's event, said that education is one of the major factors that can contribute to the development of entrepreneurship.

"The goals of our organization are fostering entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy and empowerment of youth to enter the labor market well prepared... Best Business Plan challenge is a great opportunity to encourage their creativity and innovativeness, and motivation to start thinking about self-employment in the future", Maneva said.

This year, 10,000 students from 16 countries from Europe founded 1,400 start-up businesses which were aided by 1,500 volunteers and 250 professional teachers of Junior Achievement - Young Enterprise Europe.