Bulgaria, North Macedonia will advance cooperation in agriculture, transport, SMEs
Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia signed three memorandums of cooperation in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries, the government information service said.
The official signing took place after a joint meeting of the two governments in Sofia and included a Memorandum of Understanding in the area of agriculture, agrarian science, rural development and forestry, Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Sofia-Skopje rail link, and Memorandum of Understanding between the Bulgarian Executive Agency for Promotio of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and North Macedonia's Agency for Promotion of Entrepreneurship.
Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry
Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov and North Macedonia's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupco Nikolovski signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two ministries for cooperation in the area of agriculture, agrarian science, rural development and forestry.
The document envisages advancing cooperation between the two countries in agriculture through an exchange of information and transfer of expertise, exchange of good practices, implementation of joint research projects and cross-border cooperation in rural areas. Bulgaria offered to share its experience in connection with accessing EU's Instrument for Preaccession Assistance.
Transport
A plan for the development of the project for a rail link between Sofia and Skopje, an assessment of investment costs and a survey into possibilities for funding from the EU and international institutions are part of the tasks of a joint Working Group on Infrastructure, Transport and Connectivity. This is
envisaged in a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Sofia-Skopje rail link between Bulgaria and North Macedonia as a basis for conducting negotiations.
The document was signed by Bulgarian Transport Minister Nikolay Sabev and his Macedonian counterpart Blagoj Bochvarski. The rail link is of strategic an economic importance for the citizens and the economies of the two countries. Its construction will integrate fully the rail networks of the two countries in the Trans-European Transport Network.
Sabev has taken the initiative to organize a meeting with his Albanian and Macedonian counterparts to urge the European Comission to include the Sofia-Skopje railway link in the Western Balkans transport corridor, Ministry reported.
The first flight on the regular line Sofia-Skopje can take place already in March, Bulgarian and North-Macedonian Transport Ministers said after signing a joint declaration on the wish for the estbalishment of an airline between the two countries.
The two sides also signed a declaration of intent to cut the roaming charges between the two countries.
Economy, Innovations and Growth
Innovations and Growth Minister Daniel Lorer and North Macedonia's Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bulgarian Executive Agency for Promotion of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and North Macedonia's Agency for Promotion of Entrepreneurship. The memorandum will aid the development of bilateral economic cooperation. Acknowledging the strategic importance of the development of small and medium-sized businesses for boosting employment, economic and social stability, the sides undertake to aid the businesses of the respective countries and establish and maintain various forms of cooperation. Under the memorandum the two agencies will partner in the development of small and medium-sized businesses by providing real opportunities for expanding contacts between businesses from the two countries.
The two sides will cooperate in the organization of promotional events in favour of SMEs.
Source: BTA.bg