site.btaMacedonian Economy MinisterTalks with Bulgarian Employer Organizations

Macedonian Economy Minister Talks with Bulgarian Employer Organizations

Sofia, June 10 (BTA) - Skopje's relations with Sofia can become even better as the political crisis in Macedonia has ended and a new age is dawning in the country, Macedonian Economy Minister Driton Kuqi said at a meeting with Bulgarian employer organizations in Sofia Friday. Bulgaria is Macedonia's fifth most important trade partner, Kuqi told the meeting, which was hosted by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Among the areas of bilateral cooperation, he singled out the possibility for Macedonia to use Bulgaria's experience in aligning its legislation with EU law. Kuqi said his country aspires to attract foreign investments, and expressed hope that more investors will come from Bulgaria. There have already been successful Bulgarian investments in Macedonia and one of them is that of Minstroy, he stated.

The Bulgarian ministers of economy, energy and tourism will be invited to visit Macedonia for a meeting of the Bulgaria-Macedonia Economic Commission, Kuqi said.

Zore Temelkovski, President of the Macedonian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, said two-way trade has the potential to exceed one billion US dollars by 2017, increasing from the current 800 million dollars. Temelkovski listed some of the more significant Macedonian investments in the Bulgarian economy, including a sunflower oil refinery in Pleven and a construction materials operation in Pernik.

During the meeting, the sides noted that bilateral cooperation has potential in the field of energy, the environment, agriculture, the manufacturing industries, trade and high technology, and in joint ventures in third countries.

There are business stumbling blocks related to infrastructure and border crossings, they said. Bulgarian business persons believe the two countries can address the problems on a bilateral basis.