Türkiye emphasizes strategic importance of Balkans at North Macedonia forum

Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, underscored the critical importance of the Balkans for Türkiye’s foreign trade and regional stability during the Türkiye-North Macedonia Business Forum held in Skopje on Tuesday.

“The Balkans serve as a vital corridor connecting Europe to Türkiye and Asia. For Türkiye, this region is also a crucial gateway to Central and Western Europe. Its peace and stability, enriched by historical and cultural ties, remain of utmost importance to us,” Bolat said during his address.

The forum, organized under Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade and North Macedonia’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, brought together business leaders and officials from both countries.

Key participants included North Macedonia’s Foreign and Foreign Trade Minister Timco Mucunski, Economy and Labor Minister Besar Durmishi, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje Fatih Ulusoy, and representatives from the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the North Macedonian Chamber of Commerce.

North Macedonia: Hub for Turkish investments

Bolat emphasized North Macedonia’s pivotal role as a trade and investment hub for Türkiye in the Balkans. He noted that bilateral trade volume between the two nations is projected to reach $900 million by the end of 2023.

“Our goal for the coming year is to elevate this trade volume to $1 billion, and we aim to achieve this with the support of business leaders,” he stated.

Highlighting Türkiye’s broader economic ties with the region, Bolat revealed that Turkish trade with Balkan countries amounted to nearly $34 billion in 2023, comprising $22.5 billion in exports and $12 billion in imports.

Turkish investments in the Balkans also continue to grow, with North Macedonia hosting over 2,000 Turkish businesses and receiving direct investments exceeding $2 billion.

Tourism and trade agreements

Tourism remains another cornerstone of bilateral relations. Bolat reported that 261,000 Turkish tourists visited North Macedonia in 2023, making them the largest group of visitors to the country.

To further strengthen economic ties, Bolat and his North Macedonian counterpart announced plans to update the existing Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, aiming to expand it into new sectors. “Our teams will initiate talks to revise and extend this agreement, and we hope to finalize a new framework in the near future,” Bolat remarked.

Türkiye-North Macedonia infrastructure and defense collaboration

Bolat also emphasized Türkiye’s readiness to contribute to North Macedonia’s infrastructure projects through its globally recognized contractors. Additionally, he pointed to opportunities in defense collaboration, noting Türkiye’s willingness to engage in supply and joint production ventures with North Macedonian firms.

“Our visit aims to yield productive outcomes in investment, trade, and infrastructure,” Bolat concluded, expressing confidence that the partnership would continue to foster stronger ties in trade, diplomacy, and cultural relations.

The forum reinforced Türkiye’s commitment to playing a significant role in the development and stability of the Balkans, reflecting its broader foreign policy objectives in the region.