Setting up the first HD earth moving and cranes rental in North Macedonia In this project the partners wish to establish a heavy duty earth moving machine and crane rental service. Currently, such heavy machines can only be purchased in North Macedonia, which is very expensive and not all construction companies can afford it. This shortcoming has made North Macedonian companies unable to benefit from the numerous government plans for the development of infrastructure and mining, as well as from the boom in the building sector. The rental services should provide North Macedonian companies with an affordable solution for tapping into these opportunities. The project should therefore lead to an improvement of the competitiveness of the local building sector in comparison to foreign companies who have so far had the lead.The consortium consists of three partners. The applicant is Grovema B.V. and it specialises in overhauling, selling and renting second hand heavy duty earth moving machines and cranes from Liebherr. The local partner, Fico Servis Dooel is a sales company for second hand heavy duty earth moving machines. The third partner is Theo Smit Beheer B.V., a holding company responsible for the development of several successful businesses in various activities within the heavy duty machines sector.The partners wish to establish a joint venture in Skopje. The joint venture will train their employees (technical staff) in the Netherlands at an official vocational school. The training will also include internship on the premises of the Dutch applicant. The joint venture will furthermore cooperate with a local school in providing "open days" to students on a regular basis.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture will respect the ILO on all aspects such as human rights and anti- corruption, will provide salaries at 22% above the average, will provide legally required fringe benefits (health insurance, paid transportation, pension benefits, education for the children of the employees). The joint venture will obtain ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification. Furthermore, they will carry out an IEA for obtaining the construction permit.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsProject takes great care for work safety and human rights and provides salaries 22% above average. Fringe benefits are in line with legal requirements. Employees also receive intensive training, some of them being trained in the Netherlands at a vocational school.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe product is new for North Macedonia and it creates a new market because renting of heavy duty earth moving machines is not currently marketed by anyone. The product also has a sector effect as it brings new developments in the sector building. The production method is new as well since renting is new in comparison to selling. Last but not least, the organisation method is innovative because the project will obtain ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications.•	Chain effectsThe joint venture will buy supplies from the 25 suppliers the local partner is currently using for spare parts, fuel, oils and such. However, no long term contracts will be offered.The local subcontractors are expected to benefit from the project because they will be able to engage into additional projects by having access to the rental equipment of the joint venture. This will mean that the local companies will be able to benefit from the current infrastructure and mining plans of the government and the growth in the private building sector.•	Impact on the sectorThe project will also cooperate with a local school for allowing the students of the school to join the company for seeing how they work. Students will be allowed to peak on different activities every Friday for 4 hours (8 school months a year). First and second year students will receive theoretical information on the engine, hydraulics, mechanics, pneumatics, service and maintenance. Third and fourth year student will get practical "classes" on topics such as maintenance, painting, spare parts. The students will only be observing and not contributing to the activities. The local partner is already working with the school in the same way.•	EnvironmentThe joint venture will carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and will obtain ISO 14001 certification.•	Position of womenThe project will employ 9 women and 4 to 7 of them in medium or high positions, while women are less engaged in the sector. To establish a heavy duty earth moving machines rental service that includes repair and maintenance services for own equipment. The project will offer 18 machines for rental, each of them being rentable for approximately 1,000 hours per year.