Turkey, North Macedonia seek deeper trade and infrastructure ties at Istanbul forum
ISTANBUL, June 12 (BV) – Turkey and North Macedonia pledged to strengthen economic cooperation and expand investment, transport and energy links at a business forum in Istanbul on Friday attended by senior government officials and business leaders from both countries.
The Turkey–North Macedonia Business Forum, organized by Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), brought together more than 250 business representatives, ministers and diplomats to discuss trade, infrastructure and regional connectivity.
North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, First Deputy Prime Minister Bekim Sali, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu attended the event.
Speaking at a panel on transport networks and logistics, Uraloglu said recent geopolitical crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East, had highlighted the importance of resilient transport corridors and alternative trade routes.
Turkey has invested about $355 billion in transport infrastructure over the past 23 years, Uraloglu said, adding that Ankara was advancing projects aimed at strengthening regional connectivity between Europe, the Balkans and Asia.
He announced that construction would begin later this year on a new 120-kilometre railway line crossing Istanbul via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge after securing $6.75 billion in financing from six international financial institutions led by the World Bank.
The minister said Turkey viewed the Middle Corridor linking Europe and Asia as a strategic trade route and described the planned Development Road Corridor through Iraq as an alternative to maritime routes passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Uraloglu also highlighted growing cooperation with North Macedonia in the railway sector following a bilateral agreement signed earlier this year.
“Turkish contractors and engineers will continue to provide fast and high-quality solutions for our partners,” he said.
Trade Minister Bolat said economic relations between the two countries were expanding steadily and noted that Turkish companies had become the largest foreign investors in North Macedonia.
“When we look at the value of foreign direct investment in North Macedonia, Turkish investors rank first among all countries,” Bolat said.
He added that Turkish companies were actively involved in infrastructure, transport and energy projects across North Macedonia, while tourism links between the two countries were also growing.
According to Bolat, North Macedonia ranks among the leading Balkan sources of visitors to Turkey, while Turkish citizens represent one of the largest groups of foreign tourists visiting North Macedonia.
During the forum, North Macedonia’s former deputy prime minister and current adviser Vladimir Pesevski presented investment opportunities in the country, while ministers and officials from both governments discussed industrial cooperation, supply chains and energy integration.
The event concluded with bilateral meetings between business representatives and government officials aimed at identifying new investment opportunities and boosting trade between the two countries.