German manufacturer Gerresheimer AG will construct a plant to produce medical plastic systems in the North Macedonian capital Skopje, with 400 jobs created.

The plant is estimated to be the largest direct foreign investment in the country, said North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in a press conference on Thursday.

"We have worked hard to create a positive economic environment and our hard work has resulted in 18 direct foreign investments since the formation of the government," said Zaev.

The plant will be the company's first one constructed in Southeastern Europe, said Koco Angjushev, North Macedonian Vice-premier for economic affairs, adding that "this investment proves that North Macedonia has become a very attractive destination in the region."

North Macedonia "offers good infrastructure, cost structures, trained personnel and excellent support from the authorities," said Dietmar Siemssen, Chief Executive Officer of Gerresheimer AG, through a video connection.

The construction is set to begin in the first half of this year and is estimated to end by mid-2020. The investment amounts to a mid-double-digit million euro.

The company will produce plastic systems for both the pharmaceutical industry and the medical technology sector.