On Monday, 25 March 2019, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, Zdravko Počivalšek, held an official meeting with the Minister of Economy of North Macedonia, Kreshnik Bekteshi. North Macedonia is an important economic partner for Slovenia in terms of the Slovenian economy internationalization. Last year, an increase in trade between the countries was recorded. The ministers spoke in favour of further strengthening of the economic cooperation, especially in metallurgy and metalworking, infrastructure, tourism, the food industry, and energy.
Photo: © Flickr/Corporate Traveller
“In 2018, the trade turnover between the countries reached 307 million euros and increased by 6% as compared with 2017. The growth trend is also fixed in the services sector,” Zdravko Počivalšek stresses.
Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi notes that North Macedonia ranks fourth among the countries, in which Slovenia is investing, and that Slovenia mainly invests in trade, insurance, chemical and automotive industries.
Slovenia and North Macedonia are important economic partners. Economic cooperation at all levels (trade and services, investment, tourism) is constantly expanding. Companies with the majority Slovenian capital provide about 2,500 jobs in North Macedonia. In 2017, 1,547 Slovenian companies exported goods and services to North Macedonia, while 359 companies imported goods therefrom.
At the end of 2017, Slovenian investments in North Macedonia amounted to 357 million euros, while Macedonian investments in Slovenia amounted to 18 million euros, which is 144% more than in 2016.
Cooperation is also developing in tourism. In 2018, over 22 thousand Macedonian tourists visited Slovenia, which is 7% more than in 2017. They made 65,600 overnight stays – 17% more than in 2017.
Source: mgrt.gov.si
