Strengthening economic cooperation, increasing trade and opening new investment opportunities were the focus of the Macedonia-Turkey business forum, which was held today in Istanbul. The Macedonian delegation, led by the Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, participated in the forum together with high state representatives, institutions and business communities from both countries, with the aim of deepening economic relations and encouraging new partnerships between Macedonian and Turkish companies. The Secretary General of the Government, Igor Janushev, was also part of the Macedonian delegation, according to the announcement from the Government.
The forum was opened with speeches by representatives of DEIK – the Council for Foreign Economic Relations and UNDP, after which the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mutsunski, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs, Bekim Sali, and the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Turkey, Omer Bolat, addressed the audience. In their addresses, they emphasized the importance of further strengthening economic ties between Macedonia and Turkey, as well as the need to create new opportunities for investments and business cooperation.
Within the panel discussions, dedicated to trade, industry, energy, infrastructure and logistics, special emphasis was placed on regional connectivity and the role of free economic zones in attracting new investments. In this regard, the Secretary General of the Government, Igor Janushev, had the role of moderator of the second panel session, which was attended by the Deputy President of the Government and Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, the Director of TIRZ, Gotse Dimovski, the Executive Director of “TAV Airports”, Serkan Kaptan, the General Director of Turkish Free Economic Zones, Emel Emirlioglu, and the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Turkey, Abdulkadir Uraloglu. The panel was assessed as a significant contribution to the advancement of the dialogue on infrastructural and economic connection between the two countries. The exchange of views opened additional opportunities for cooperation in key sectors of mutual interest.
Within the framework of the forum, the Map for investing in Macedonia was also presented, which was presented by the advisor to the President of the Government and former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Vladimir Peshevski. The map offers a comprehensive overview of investment potentials, development zones and investment opportunities in the country, with the aim of promoting them to foreign investors.
The final part of the forum was addressed by the President of the Government, Hristijan Mickoski, and the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Turkey, Omer Bolat, who confirmed the joint commitment to further deepen economic cooperation, increase trade and encourage new investments between the two countries.
After the official part, there was a B2B meeting between Macedonian and Turkish companies, where direct contacts and discussions about future partnerships and new investment projects were made.
The business forum once again confirmed the strong economic connection between Macedonia and Turkey, as well as the joint determination to improve economic relations and encourage sustainable economic development.
The forum was organized within the project “Promotion of Investment Map” as part of the program to support the implementation of the National Development Strategy, led by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the General Secretariat, and implemented in cooperation with UNDP.
