FinMin Besimi, UK Ambassador Lawson discuss collaboration on economic reform
Skopje, 7 October 2022 (MIA) – Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi met Friday with British Ambassador to North Macedonia, Matthew Lawson, and Chargé d'affaires Julia Smith.
Talks focused on promoting economic cooperation between North Macedonia and the United Kingdom, increasing foreign investments in the country, as well as deepening cooperation in the area of public finance management.
Trade with the United Kingdom in 2021 accounted for 11.3 percent of total goods trade, while in the first seven months of the year alone it was about 10 percent. At the same time, exports to the United Kingdom with a total value of EUR 177.8 million last year recorded a growth of 24 percent, while in the first seven months of the year, exports of approximately EUR 100 million were realized. Among the Western Balkans, North Macedonia is the largest trading partner of the United Kingdom. Participants in the meeting extended congratulations for the country’s progress in terms of European integration. In addition, as NATO partner countries, interlocutors highlighted the importance of promoting cooperation in the area of good governance and the fight against crime. In this regard, cooperation of customs administrations is of particular importance in terms of prevention, investigation and fight against customs fraud. Besimi congratulated the Ambassador on his new post and wished him success and fruitful cooperation in the field of public finance.
