Heightened cooperation in the region was the focal point of Tuesday's working breakfast organized by Economy Minister Valon Saraqini with the ambassadors of Macedonia's neighboring countries, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Greece and Bulgaria.

Minister Saraqini underscored the necessity of abiding by CEFTA principles discussing the possibility and need of joining forces for promotion on third markets, his cabinet said in a press release. He also urged joint efforts to be made in view of realizing regional projects in energy, transportation, tourism, cross-border cooperation, customs, the fight against corporate crime and corruption.

"We should aim at using all the means at our disposal to cooperate within CEFTA and also at working on finding ways to reduce costs, alleviate and accelerate mutual collaboration. It is also necessary to establish regional brands and a Balkan stock exchange, to boost the quality and competitiveness of our own products while trading with third countries, to found a fund for economic aid for countries facing with financial problems, etc, said Saraqini.

Discussions also focused on finding ways to bolster mutual cooperation involving tourism and stimulate tourist exchange between certain countries, by creating a joint tourist offer, and to promote the region as a destination on third markets. Intensification of the implementation of cross-border projects for joint utilization of IPA funds for cross-border cooperation, investments activities between certain countries and inter-chamber cooperation of neighboring countries as well as settlement of occasional problems in the trade relations between certain countries were covered as well.

Kosovo ambassador Ilber Hisa said that an ongoing dialogue between Macedonia and Kosovo was necessary for avoiding all the problems and obstacles hindering the countries' trade relations.

The head of Greece's Liaison Office in Macedonia, Theoharis Lalakos said his country was one of the biggest investors in Macedonia.

The ambassadors of the neighboring countries concurred that enhancement of regional economic cooperation should be treated as a priority.