Skopje, 27 September 2023 (MIA) – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski met Wednesday with the UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to the Western Balkans, Martin Vickers.

At the meeting, they discussed the overall North Macedonia – UK relations, which are strong and long-term, placing a special focus on bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Kovachevski expressed great satisfaction that the United Kingdom is the second largest foreign direct investor in our country, and our country is the UK's first trade partner among the six countries of the Western Balkans, the government said in a press release.

PM Kovachevski praised the operating of British companies in the country and expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the British Business Group in North Macedonia, which will contribute to the further promotion of trade relations between the United Kingdom and North Macedonia and attracting new British investments to the country.

They also discussed possibilities for expanding economic cooperation in other areas. "The government I led is committed to strengthening trade and investments, especially in areas such as energy and infrastructure," Kovachevski said.

Kovachevski thanked Vickers for the continuous British support to North Macedonia, expressed through cooperation in many fields, towards strengthening the democratic capacities and economic development of the country.

Vickers underscored that the United Kingdom recognizes and welcomes North Macedonia’s contribution to maintaining and strengthening regional stability and security, and within NATO, he noted that British support to North Macedonia’s EU integration will continue, even though the United Kingdom is no longer an EU member state.