Nikolina Kelesovska, 23 year old, graduated economist, accountancy, finances, revision, postgraduate on business administration, MBA management

How, a young person from Macedonia can start up his own business, make money and have only a diploma from faculty and en empty account. In the case of the 23-year-old Nikolina, a graduated economist is only enough to have a clear idea of what is wanted and make a research- what is the most profitable in the given moment at the given place. "I searched on the internet which agricultural products are most demanded on the world markets. I found out that the raspberry is a deficient product which can be gathered by the world market in unlimited quantities, and in Macedonia it is manufactured at only four hectares"- says Nikolina. "I have never had any contacts with the agriculture, but I have always seen the Macedonian perspectives in it and in the export of our ecological, agricultural products. That's how Nikolina started to develop the idea for manufacturing raspberries.

When she found out for the competition of the Business start-up centre in Bitola, she registered with a completely made business-plan for manufacturing and trade with raspberries, which was a great surprise for the members of the commission which graded them. "The weirdest of all for them was how in this time, someone my age thinks for such an idea, having no contacts with the village and the soil. Someone even doubted me and made me look for my skilled cooperator who could also explain some of the things. We both convinced them that this is the business we want to deal with "-remembers Nikolina, who in front of the commission defended her idea that the agriculture in no longer work for the farmers only. " I told them that I'm going to be the manager of the company "Ninkom Malina", which will do agricultural activities.   The capital and the idea are in me. My entrepreneurial initiation is enough to take on the risk, and the profit in future I hope".

Nikolina and her partner, who is a graduated biotechnologist with a certificate of conducting the HASAP standards, started with realizing the plan. "We have a workable surface from 3 hectares in the village Slepce. At the beginning we'll start with one hectare, i.e. by planting 10.000 seedlings, for which we'll get certificates that they are clean, not infected and that they will give yield. Now we prepare the soil and in September we'll plant the raspberries. We'll already have the first harvest next year." Two will be constantly employed in "Ninkom Malina", but because this work is seasonal, there will be a need for additional work force from time to time. The employers we'll be hired by the Agency for additional employments, and in the period for harvest there we'll be 10 to 15 people working.

The investment that will be placed for this work is returning even in the first year, because this is very profitable business. "I'm talking only for the production of raspberries in fresh form. Later, when I introduce the line for frozen and dried-up raspberries, the profit will be twice increased. My thoughts are in the future to concentrate on the production of processed raspberries. The raspberries will be manufactured by others and I will provide the purchase and process them, I will brand them. My products, after several years, we'll be recognized on the market as "MALINA NINA."

Nikolina is convinced in her success. She says that the first two years she'll be oriented on the domestic market only. She'll give the raspberries directly to the processing industry, because in that way she'll gain an additional income from the country which subsidizes the production of raspberries. Next, as a plan for realization will be her long term goal- organic production of raspberries and their export. At the same time she wants to act stimulating with the individual farmers who have little workable surface and don't know what to manufacture, because they aren't sure in the purchase. "I'll have to convince them that the raspberry is the real choice. If the number of the manufacturers of raspberries increases we'll make an Association which will be leading in our country and on the Balkan. With our high-quality Macedonian raspberry and with the quantities we are going to offer, we can be competitive on the foreign market." Nikolina hopes that she will change the traditional way of thinking of her people , who will accept the risk and follow the modern times and trends, as she does.