Skopje, 28 December 2023 (MIA) - Trade exchange between North Macedonia and Turkiye has reached USD 1 billion. Despite the difficult year, businesses in both countries realized numerous projects, cooperated in many fields, reaching an enviable result, said president of the Macedonia Turkiye Chamber of Commerce (MATTO) Ajdovan Ademoski at an event summarizing this year's work on Wednesday.

The event, organized by MATTO, was attended by representatives from the business community, non-government organizations and media.

"We realized many projects together, cooperated in many fields, and reached USD 1 billion in trade between North Macedonia and Turkiye. We hope to achieve the same result in the future. We had a difficult year, experienced economic and energy crisis, natural disasters. Despite that, we managed to come together in solidarity, uniting as two nations to overcome difficulties. The earthquake that hit Turkiye on January 6 killed over 50,000 people, destroying 11 provinces, 500,000 buildings, totalling over EUR 100 billion in damages. North Macedonia acted almost immediately. Everyone mobilized, the Macedonian people, state, non-government organizations, Red Cross and secured material and financial aid of over EUR 3 million, with more than 60 trucks in humanitarian aid," Ademoski said.

He highlighted a finished project that, according to him, bridges both countries as proof of the friendship between the nations.

"MATTO built a new school in Malatya, Turkiye on an area of 8.656 square meters, called Republic of North Macedonia. Each of the 24 classrooms was named after a Macedonian city - Skopje, Bitola, Kalkandelen, Tetovo, Ohrid, Shtip, Kumanovo," Ademoski added. ssh/ik/

Photo: MATTO