Tuesday, 29 October 2019
MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT XHAFERI AND A DELEGATION FROM THE MACEDONIA – TURKEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi and the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of Turkey, composed of Enes Ibrahim, Chairman and Amdi Bajram, Yusuf Hasani, Teuta Biljali and Dragan Shuklev, members of the Parliamentary Group, met today with a delegation from the Macedonia – Turkey Chamber of Commerce (MATTO), led by MATTO President, Aydovan Ademoski and including Vice Presidents - Imer Selmani and Turhan Ademi and Executive Director Shahpaz Molaliev.
At the meeting, the parties exchanged views and proposals for improving the business and promoting the economic growth of the Republic of North Macedonia, and it was agreed that the intensive and friendly bilateral relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey create room for a more intensive economic cooperation between the two countries.
President Xhaferi expressed satisfaction with the establishment of communication and institutional cooperation between the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia and MATTO, stressing the significant contribution of the trade between North Macedonia and Turkey, as well as the Turkish investments in the country to the economic flows and the state budget. At the same time, he underlined the importance of MATTO's cooperation with all chambers of commerce in the Republic of North Macedonia. Stressing that in the past period, the main contribution of the economic cooperation was focused in Skopje and the southeastern part of the country, he pledged to increase cooperation and investments in the western and southwestern part of the Republic of North Macedonia. The President of the Assembly emphasized that there is no divide between MPs from the government and the opposition regarding the economic issues, that is, there is a consensus on the need to promote economic growth and cooperation.
MATTO President Aydovan Ademoski expressed satisfaction that the legislature is open to the business community and informed that about 100 eminent companies from the country and investors from the Republic of Turkey are members of MATTO, employing nearly 10,000 citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia. He noted that Turkish investments in the country amounted to USD 2 billion, and the total trade between North Macedonia and Turkey exceeded USD 521 million, with a commitment to increase it to USD 1 billion. MATTO representatives pledged to further liberalize the Free Trade Agreement between North Macedonia and Turkey, which would greatly increase the volume of trade and promote the entry of domestic companies into the Turkish market. It was emphasized that MATTO carries out activities in the field of social responsibility, such as scholarships for high school and university students, emphasizing that the Republic of North Macedonia could become an "education oasis" if it facilitates the entry of future international students.
At the end of the meeting, President Xhaferi emphasized that the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia remains open for cooperation with the business sector and called on MATTO representatives to address the MPs on all open issues, as the institute "parliamentary questions" can make their business activities public and incite the Government to address all challenges.