North Macedonia and Greece will work on the enhancement of economic cooperation, trade exchange and investment protection through joint steps, agreed Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi and Greek Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis in Skopje on Friday, news agency MIA writes.
Besimi and Fragogiannis highlighted priority projects between the two countries in the field of infrastructure and energy, progress in activities related to the signing of a bilateral agreement to stimulate and protect investments and an agreement to eliminate double taxation, as well as the process of North Macedonia’s EU accession, the Ministry of Finance said in a press release.
The Government is undertaking activities for realization of the project on the construction of an interconnection gas pipeline to Greece, estimated at EUR 57,8 million, provided by the European Investment Bank, the Western Balkans Investment Framework and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The gas pipeline is one of the country’s top priority projects for the purpose of ensuring stability in energy supply, primarily for the industry sector, also contributing to accelerated and sustainable economic growth and better life for citizens. In addition, the project for modernization of the border crossings between the two countries is ongoing by using IPA funds, resulting in increased functionality and improved quality of services at the border crossings, reads the press release.
North Macedonia-Greece trade exchange has risen by 48.7 percent in period January-November 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, totaling at EUR 838,8 million.