Prime Minister Gruevski handed over Wednesday 71 concessions for geological research and exploitation of mineral raw materials.

Domestic and companies from Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada and Great Britain were awarded with concessions at a ceremony in the Government premises.

"The Government has paid special attention and incited numerous activities to researching and exploiting of mineral raw materials. Our dedication to this sphere is a result of our assessment that the mineral resources in Macedonia have not been sufficiently exploited thus far. If this natural resource is correctly exploited, it may speed up the country's economic development," Gruevski said.