Export-oriented companies believe that the Open Balkan initiative is of enormous significance due to the opportunities for their improved operations and larger growth, shows a research conducted by think-tank Analytica.

In the research that included 50 export-oriented companies, 96.4 percent of respondents say the initiative would open new opportunities for their company, while 89.3 percent claim there are currently no obstacles for economic cooperation among regional countries. Asked if opportunities for regional trade exchange through the Open Balkan initiative could be the same as those among EU member-states, 63.3 percent say yes, while 30 percent say they will be similar but not the same.

A vast majority of companies (92 percent) believe that Open Balkan will facilitate movement of capital, while 79.3 percent say the initiative will facilitate movement of people in general. The research shows that strengthening of goodneighborly relations, enhanced fight against corruption and organized crime, rule of law and continuation of EU reforms are the main challenges for the countries of the Western Balkans.

The research was conducted within project “Economic integration of the Western Balkans – Regional Economic Cooperation and Common Regional Market (Mapping Progress) – Opportunity for North Macedonia to approach the EU Internal Market”, financially supported by Foundation Open Society – Macedonia.

Source: MIA