A delegation of eight Austrian companies interested in cooperating with infrastructure construction companies and with institutions announcing public tenders in the same area, attended the Macedonian-Austrian Business Forum on Wednesday in Skopje, informs new agency MIA.
“Macedonian institutions and companies are holding discussions with the Austrian companies and we hope that this will result in business deals and that they will further develop excellent cooperation. Our idea is to organize such forums as often as possible in order to pave the way for the Macedonian companies and institutions to develop cooperation with European countries,” said Jadranka Arizankovska, manager of the Economic Chamber, prior to the start of the business forum.
The fact that there are large number of Austrian companies that attend today’s forum, shows that there is a great interest for cooperation, she said. “Also, Macedonian companies show great interest for cooperation and the idea of the Economic Chamber is make way for easier and better cooperation with companies from Austria,” Arizankovska said.
Hari Lokvenec, Director of the state-owned public enterprise Macedonian Railways – Infrastructure said that the Austrian companies through the Austrian Economic Chamber have recognized the infrastructure projects in the railway sector as the greatest potential in our country.
“A large share in the EU budget is funds for infrastructure, intended for the railway. The fact that the EU has designated 2021 as the European Year of Rail, Europe has shown the importance of the railways and the need to invest in this type of infrastructure. I consider that this type of meetings will help us, as a country and as an enterprise for railway infrastructure, for greater use of EU funds intended for railway infrastructure,” Lokvenec said.
The commercial counselor at the Embassy of Austria in Belgrade, Erika Teoman-Brenner, said that eight Austrian companies present at today’s business forum in Skopje offer innovative services and products for the transport infrastructure and the logistics sector.
“I hope that today’s meeting will contribute to further cooperation between the two countries. The companies here in Skopje today are looking for partnerships with local companies to implement the projects. I am confident the meeting will help them identify and find potential business partners,” Teoman Brenner added.
Austria is North Macedonia’s 18th largest trading partner, and the second major investor in the country in the fields of construction, finance, banking, telecommunications and energy.
