Belgrade, 5 September (MIA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski and Deputy PM for Community Relations Ivan Stoiljkovikj met Thursday with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Siniša Mali within the frameworks of their working visit to Belgrade, Serbia, MIA's Belgrade correspondent reports.

Talks focused on strengthening economic and trade ties between the two countries with emphasis on improving market accessibility conditions, creating better conditions for companies, and opportunities for building a single market between Western Balkan countries.

"Macedonia is fully focused on facilitating trade and transport between Western Balkan countries," the Macedonian delegation said, highlighting the need of coming up with new joint policies for improving regional trade. 
Interlocutors also discussed initiatives and measures within the frameworks of the Open Balkan initiative, with both sides agreeing it is necessary to promote policies to facilitate the movement of goods and services.

Mali, Stoilkovikj, and Nikoloski touched upon the organization of the specialized Expo 2027 exhibition, with Minister Mali inviting North Macedonia to participate. He also invited his guests to visit the construction site where a complex set to represent over 120 countries is expected to be built by 2027.

“We also raised the issue having Macedonian businesses participate, first as assistance in the construction of EXPO 2027, as well as the participation of Macedonian businesses in the Belgrade Expo 2027 as a chance for the development of the Macedonian economy, as well as the entire region,” Stoiljkovikj noted.

He added that together with the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, they will look for companies that would contribute to the construction of Expo 2027.

Minister Nikoloski said the Government is determined to strengthen the regional economy by constructing new modern and quality infrastructure that will strengthen the competitive position of transport corridors in the region.

He stressed that Macedonia is strongly focused on constructing and joining the high-speed railway on European Corridor X, as a prerequisite for fast transport of goods and passengers between countries in the region. In that context, the need for joint activities to finish the construction of the Belgrade-Nish-Tabanovce-Skopje high-speed railway was also highlighted.

Both parties concluded that the economic cooperation between the countries is at a high level and agreed that in the coming period both governments will work on improving conditions for the citizens and companies from both countries by taking joint measures and policies. ssh/ad/

Photo: MIA