The Macedonian-Serbian Business Club is expected to be established early next year, announced the Chambers of Commerce of Macedonia and Serbia during the business forum in Belgrade where there were direct meetings between representatives of about hundred companies from both countries. Businessmen received support for the initiative from the Presidents of Macedonia and Serbia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov and Mr. Tomislav Nikolic.

"It is joint interest the two countries and economies to be connected in infrastructure to enable better living standards for the citizens and better economic conditions for the business communities", the Macedonian President said in his address to the forum.

Macedonia, President Ivanov said, in the latest World Bank Report, Doing Business 2017, is ranked 10th and called the Serbian businessmen to invest in our country, but also to partner with Macedonian companies for joint ventures in third countries.

He informed the businessmen that he and his Serbian counterpart agreed on a project to connect the rivers Vardar, Morava and Danube with the Aegean Sea. With the construction of the canal, more than 1,200 km waterway is shortened.

Trade between the two countries is at a satisfactory level, the Serbian President Nikolic said, but there is room for its increase by intensifying the economic cooperation.

Therefore, I urge you, the businessmen not to see Serbia and Macedonia just as markets for your products and services, but also as an opportunity for sector partnerships that will be equally competitive at the regional and distant markets", President Nikolic said. As great cooperation potential he mentioned the road infrastructure, energy, agriculture and tourism.

Annually, in average, the trade exchange between Macedonia and Serbia is about 700 million US Dollars, and in the first six months of this year it was around 340 million US Dollars.

"The interest of the business of Macedonia is Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania to become economic leaders, since Macedonia will go forward along. The realization of this is in your hands; you need to encourage economic development, and in the hands of the politicians who would make it possible", said before the two Presidents, the President of the Economic Chamber of Macedonia, Branko Azeski.

According to him, the Balkans today implements a project that can be said to be a success story, and it is the Berlin process from several aspects. - Because it has a powerful sponsor, it is the German Chancellor, as the most powerful politician in Europe. Second, because the process is supported by the four most powerful countries in Europe. Third, because it has a clear goal, which is the infrastructure of the Balkans. And fourth, because it has a clearly defined financier – the European Union funds. I invite you as companies to see your interest in it, Azeski said.

Over the next year, it is expected the highway to Macedonia to be completed and from there to Greece, but Azeski stressed we will not solve the problems with it. "The queues of trucks and vehicles will remain at the borders. Let's use this time to overcome all non-tariff barriers and problems that exist on the border to more quickly and successfully accomplish the businesses", Azeski said, who asked for harmonization of legislation and accelerated flow of goods and services.

President of the Economic Company of Serbia, Marko Chadezh, deems it is necessary to support the idea of ​​a joint presentation of companies of the two countries on third markets and creation of joint companies. "Only thus we can be much stronger and competitive with major international companies and conquer other markets", Chadezh said.

The Macedonian President Ivanov is paying a working visit to Serbia as part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the settlement of Macedonians in Vojvodina. He met with his host, President Nikolic.