Venice, 9 June 2022 (MIA) – The post-COVID-19 period showed the need of capitalizing on the full potential of the economies of European countries, said Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi, who is heading a delegation for a visit to Italy on June 9-10. Bytyqi, who was accompanied by Minister of Diaspora Dzemail Chupi, Consulate General of North Macedonia in Venice, Stojan Vitanov, and President of the Macedonian-Italian business chamber Api NordEst, Munir Shemshi, held meetings on Thursday with representatives of the local self-government of the city of Venice and the Veneto region. During the talks, held as part of the visit to promote the first Macedonian-Italian business chamber Api NordEst, Bytyqi voiced satisfaction with the extraordinary economic and cultural cooperation with Italy. At a meeting with Venice prefect Vittorio Zappalorto, Deputy PM Bytyqi stressed this was the first economic delegation to Venice in a long time, pointing out that Italy is one of the first ten countries with which North Macedonia has intensive trade cooperation. As part of the visit to Italy, the Macedonian delegation led by Deputy PM Bytyqi also met with Veneto region president Elisa de Berti. The representatives of the government delegation pointed out that there are 25,000 Macedonian nationals living and working in the Veneto region only, voicing hope that part of this business community will be interested in the future for investments and cooperation with their country. Participants in the meeting highlighted continued excellent support between Italy and North Macedonia, pointing out as the best prove the fact that Italian companies are among the first five investors in the country.