Upon an invitation of Pelagonija Regional Development Agency – PREDA, today the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, visited Bitola and held the opening speech honoring the anniversary of this foundation that is active for ten years in the sphere of economic development of the municipalities in that region.

PREDA is an excellent example of cooperation between the state, its citizens and business. It is a private-public partnership, in which the state and the nongovernmental sector and entrepreneurs invest and work for the common welfare. Therefore, the role of the state is not to interfere in business, but to create favorable conditions for economic development, to build infrastructure for internal and external economic cooperation. Hence, at all of my official visits I am accompanied by representatives of Macedonia’s business sector, said President Ivanov at today's ceremony organized by PREDA Foundation, an agency supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. President Ivanov assessed as very important and excellent the cooperation between Macedonia and Switzerland.

Switzerland is a country that shares with us its valuable experience on local connectivity, a country - leader in the field of local engagement that results in economic success. Ten years of partnership is a confirmation of the mutual commitment of the Republic of Macedonia and Switzerland to the socio-economic development of Pelagonija region, stressed President Ivanov.

At the ceremony in Bitola, the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Republic of Macedonia, Mrs. Nicole Wyrsch confirmed that with their support "PREDA" managed to train about 1,000 professionals and enabled 38 companies from Pelagonija region to exhibit at fairs in Europe and therefore in future they will focus on projects from the sphere of economy.

The tenth anniversary since the establishment of the Regional Development Agency – PREDA was attended by the Defence Minister Zoran Konjanovski, the mayors from Pelagonija region, the Rector of St. Kliment Ohridski University and civil sector representatives.