Skopje, 5 april 2023 (MIA) - The Government will continue to work on the enlargement of cooperation with Croatia, strengthening of mutual trust, understanding and good neighborliness. Economic and trade exchange will be in the focus over the coming period, along with the need for strengthening of cooperation in the tourism field and professional education of Macedonian students on the Adriatic coast, as well as the first joint session of the two governments, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski told a joint press conference with visiting Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday.

PM Kovachevski said cooperation with Croatia is highly developed in the Euro-integration field, where Zagreb is one of the most vocal and most consistent supporters of North Macedonia's European integration.

He added that Croatia has invested about EUR 108 million in North Macedonia until now, mostly in the service and food sector, whereas cultural cooperation has enhanced through last year's opening of the Macedonian Culture and Information Center in Zagreb.

"We are thankful to our nationals living in Croatia who are realizing and enhancing their rights by the day. We want to see larger economic and trade cooperation in the coming period. Trade exchange between the two countries in 2022 exceeded EUR 200 million and has the potential for advancement and doubling in coming years," said Kovachevski.

The PM expressed assurance there is a series of areas where cooperation could be advanced, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, transport infrastructure, construction and tourism.

"Regarding the increase of trade exchange and attraction of new investments from Croatia, I believe the Macedonian-Croatian Business Club that was set up last year will provide a significant contribution," added Kovachevski.

According to him, there is a need for strengthening of cooperation in the field of tourism and support to the programme for professional education of Macedonian students at the Adriatic coast and the Croatian tourism faculties, while also highlighting the introduction of the seasonal Skopje-Split flight.

"The pending constitutional changes also encompass the inclusion of Croats in our Constitution and I hope we will be successful as a society in reaching pan-partisan consensus," said Kovachevski.

Croatian PM Plenkovic said now was the time to make the right moves and make strategic decisions that would lead to economic growth and improved living conditions for all citizens of North Macedonia.

In bilateral terms, he added, trade exchange has reached EUR 300 million.

"We are pleased to see many Macedonian tourists visiting Croatia. When it comes to tourism income, it amounted to EUR 13.1 billion in 2022 and we expect it to exceed EUR 15 billion in 2023," noted Plenkovic.