Skopje, 2 December 2025 (MIA) — More than 200 companies and at least 300 businesspeople are expected to take part in the Macedonian-Serbian business forum to be held Wednesday in Skopje to boost economic cooperation, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Community Relations Ivan Stoilkovikj and Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarović.

Speaking to the press after their visit to processed meat producer and food distributor Pekabesko and the Kamnik winery Kamnik earlier Tuesday, Stoilkovikj and Mesarović said the two countries had great potential for business cooperation, especially in the food industry.

According to the two ministers, forum participants would also consider infrastructure projects.

"The goal is for Serbian products to be found in Macedonian retail chains and for Serbian companies to open plants in North Macedonia to the greatest extent possible," Mesarović said.

The Serbian economy minister also said the forum would encourage Macedonian investors to invest in Serbia and Macedonian products and services to be offered on the Serbian market. 

"There is always potential where there are resources, and Macedonia's main resources are food products, so this will be the main focus of everything happening in the future," Deputy PM Stoilkovikj said.

He said interest in participating in the business forum was high and a memorandum of cooperation would be signed, as well.

"This is a major economic event for both Macedonia and Serbia," he said, highlighting that bilateral ties were good and both sides were "working on raising economic cooperation to a higher level."

Speaking about bilateral trade, Stoilkovikj said: "A few years ago it was below one billion, this year it is 1.4 billion. We aim to end with 1.5 billion and reach two billion in the coming years." 

"We have the resources and serious intentions that can make this possible," he added. "We are here to help businesspeople to make it happen." mr/