During a working visit to Bulgaria, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met with Prime Minister Bojko Borisov, where they discussed future cooperation between the two countries, which, following the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations, has seen steady growth in all areas. At their meeting, opportunities were discussed for creating the conditions for increasing trade along with mutual reduction of customs rates.
“Prime Ministers Zaev and Borisov also discussed preparations for a second intergovernmental session scheduled to be held later this year in Bulgaria, and a joint business forum, to be held in Skopje, hoping to create an additional momentum for economic cooperation, which is a top priority for the business communities and the peoples’ of both countries. At the meeting it was concluded that cross-border cooperation is intensifying and that all necessary efforts will be made by stable trade exchange totaling almost 600 million euros which will increase to 1 billion euros,” the Government statement said.
It adds that “the continuity of the construction of the road and railway infrastructure of Corridor 8 remains a capital interest for both countries.”
“Rehabilitation and the construction of the railway is a capital project with a total value of 670 million euros, and the road infrastructure with a total value of 93 million euros. 120 million euros are non-refundable funds or grants from the Western Balkan Investment Fund, namely the EU. Both countries will also pay the same amount of attention working to connect gas infrastructure, and joint participation in regional projects and networks of gas interconnection, ” the statement adds.
The two prime ministers also attended a ceremonial signing of the joint Cultural Cooperation Program between the two countries by 2021, as confirmation of the good will and interest for intensifying communication, exchange of experience and affirmation of the cultural values of the two countries.
In order to implement the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations, Prime Minister Zaev said that as a result of efforts of both commissions for the joint celebration of historical events and personalities, soon in Macedonia, near Dojran, at the place where Konstantin Kavarnaliev lost his life, a monument will be erected in honour to the Colonel, a well known personality from Bulgarian history during the First World War.
