Skopje, 1 September 2022 (MIA) - Open Balkan today shows what integration is, what facilitated approach, practical application of the open door policy and good neighborliness is. Today, here, we're connecting our economies, we're opening new markets, and securing space to exchange new ideas, technologies and access to work opportunities, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said addressing the opening of "Wine Vision by Open Balkan", the first international fair for wine, food and tourism taking place September 1-4 in Belgrade. The Balkan wine routes are criss-crossing here, because the fair brings together producers, buyers and distilleries in the region, Kovachevski told the event alongside Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. "Macedonian wines are of world-renowned quality. According to latest rankings, North Macedonia is the second biggest wine exporter in the region and the 29th biggest wine exporter in the world. Wine export from our country is on the rise for the third year in a row," he stated. Macedonian wineries last year recorded a 19-percent increase in export compared to 2020 and their number has increased to 139 with annual average production of nearly 100 million liters. According to Kovachevski, the Belgrade fair paves the way towards a fresh dynamic in regional relations and providing economic prosperity for the citizens and companies in the region. "For the first time at an international food, wine and tourism fair, with national support, representatives of 43 wineries and three distilleries from North Macedonia are taking part and showcasing 300 different wines and rakia and some dozen food producers will also attend, " said the PM adding all exhibitors have equal chances to promote their products to hundreds of thousands of visitors and to find new markets and establish contacts with attending companies. The first international fair of wine, food and tourism “Wine Vision by Open Balkan”, organized as part the Open Balkan initiative, is taking place in Belgrade Thursday through Sunday Over 330 participants from 22 countries are set to participate in the event, held under the auspices of the governments of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, including 47 from North Macedonia. Exhibitors from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, France, Italy, Romania, Moldova, Chile, Argentina, South Africa will also take part. Besides the promotional part of the event that includes food and wine tasting, as well as tourism networking, the event will also have a political aspect – an Open Balkan leaders’ summit on Friday. Besides panel discussions, summit participants will sign three documents for cooperation in the fields of food, culture and civil protection. Besides the leaders of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, the summit will also be attended by Montenegro Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers Chairman, Zoran Tegetlija, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Hungary and Turkey, Peter Szijjarto and Mevlut Cavusoglu respectively.