Skopje to host North Macedonian-Serbian business forum

Deputy PM and Minister of Inter-Community Relations Ivan Stoilkovikj met Wednesday in Belgrade with Serbian Deputy PM and Economy Minister Adrijana Mesarović, discussing the Macedonian-Serbian business forum that is set to take place in Skopje on December 3.

The forum aims to further enhance bilateral economic cooperation, incentivise joint investment projects and joint promotion at third markets, CE Report quotes MIA.

"Our joint goal is intensification of economic cooperation and increasing foreign trade exchange. Numbers show that despite existing challenges, this year's economic exchange will exceed the one in 2024, considering it stands at over EUR 1.1 billion in the first ten months, while the one for the whole of 2024 amounted to EUR 1.4 billion," said Deputy PM Stoilkovikj after the meeting.

He added that the visit reaffirms the continued dialogue and partnership between the two countries, aiming for a stable, economically linked and Europe-oriented region of the Western Balkans.

"Businesses urge for cooperation and we want to meet their demands. With the support of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Skopje will host a large business forum on December 3, during which we will discuss further enhancement of cooperation and distribution of Macedonian and Serbian products on the countries' markets. Our Government's policies produce concrete results - stable economic growth, opening of new markets and strengthening of regional stability and connectivity. As a result, our businessmen will have more opportunities for distribution of their products and services at other markets," said Stoilkovikj.

Deputy PM Mesarović said the Skopje business forum would be organized for the purpose of further networking of businesses.

Interlocutors agreed that bilateral cooperation continues to develop in the spirit of partnership, trust and common interests.

Earlier, Deputy PM Stoilkovikj took part in the Western Balkans 2030 Conference, a key regional forum that brings together representatives of European institutions, international organizations and the business community to define together the guidelines for the region’s development until 2030. The focus is on regional integration, energy transition, digitization, sustainable growth and investments.

Organized by The Region magazine and jointly supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and UNOPS, the forum brings together ministers, business leaders, and international institutions to explore how cooperation, integration, and innovation can define the region’s next chapter.

The goal of the organizers is to establish Western Balkans 2030 as an annual forum for dialogue and cooperation and as a place where ideas are transformed into concrete actions and partnerships.

Photo: Office of Deputy PM Stoilkovikj, Instagram