From Novi Sad and Belgrade to Skopje and Durres without stopping: Discounts on tickets and tolls

"We will try to open our borders, that is historically important," Vucic said. The new name of the regional initiative will be announced at the forum and three agreements will be signed to improve cooperation in the region

A large regional economic forum held within the Mini Schengen initiative started today in Skopje in the presence of President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, and prime ministers of North Macedonia and Albania, Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama.

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The Economic Forum for Regional Cooperation, organized by the Chambers of Commerce of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, gathered about 350 companies from the Western Balkans. 217 companies from Serbia are participating.

"When we started this initiative, it seemed to all three of us that it was something good, something that was changing things in the Balkans. We decided to turn our heads from the past toward the future," said Vucic at the beginning of the forum.

"We all had different types of problems among ourselves. We decided to turn our heads towards the future. I can say that sincere trust has developed between these three countries in the last two years. It is important to show the people in our countries that we are able to make decisions, to cooperate with everyone, on the road to the EU, and not to wait for anyone. That trust is the key thing. Last night, we easily agreed on everything," said Vucic, addressing the forum.

He added that sincere trust has developed in the last two years.

"It is important for us to show to the people of our countries that we are able to make decisions on our own and improve the lives of citizens, to be on the European path but not wait for someone to lead and guide us, but to work in the interest of our citizens," said the president.

He stressed that if the three countries manage to have traffic to pass through them without borders in a year and a half, it will be historic.

"We will be able to go to Skopje, to Durres, without any delay. That is history if we succeed in a year and a half. It will be enough to be in the territory of one country, we exchange software ourselves. Whatever you sell, whatever you buy, there is no stopping," he stated, talking about fast lanes, stressing that countless possibilities are opening up for us.

He announced that regional cooperation will include discounts of 3, 5 and more percent on restaurants, tolls, tickets for citizens living in the territory of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania.

He pointed out that there is a problem with the lack of labor force in a part of Serbia, and that Albania and North Macedonia can help provide qualified workers.

The Skopje Forum on Regional Cooperation in the WB brought together companies from Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and BiH, as well as other regional and European economies, and representatives of governments, financial institutions, universities, international delegations and associations.

The largest number of companies are from the construction sector, agriculture and food industry, energy, machinery, car and textile industry, tourism, ICT and telecommunications, transport and logistics.

At the forum, as announced by President Vucic, the new name of that regional initiative will be announced and three agreements will be signed to improve cooperation in the region.

These are the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to Facilitate Import, Export and Movement of Goods in the WB, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Relation to Free Access to the WB Labor Market and the Agreement on Cooperation on Disaster Protection in the WB.

Zaev, Vucic and Rama will address the forum, and later the presidents of the chambers of commerce of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, Marko Cadez, Branko Azeski and Ines Mucostepa will do the same.

After the discussion, Vucic, Zaev and Rama will sign the three mentioned documents, announce the new official name and logo of the regional initiative and address the media. Business meetings in the B2B format will follow.

(Telegraf Biznis)