Creating a free trade area, competitive economic environment, integrating global economy, and synergy between the CEFTA Secretariat and the SEE Strategy 2020 are the four priorities during Macedonia's Chairmanship with the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in 2014.

Economy Minister Valon Saraqini said Monday trade within CEFTA states is significant for Macedonia, encompassing 18 percent of country's total trade.

"We are continually working on trade liberalization, primarily for agriculture products, but also services. Technical barriers for the Moldova trade liberalization are to be removed soon. Thus, trade within CEFTA will be fully liberalized", said Saraqini after a meeting with CEFTA Secretariat director Renata Vitez.

He stressed that Macedonia has set an ambitious agenda during its chairmanship, working on the elimination of all non-tariff barriers and simplification of trade procedures in the coming period. Regional cooperation in the section of intellectual property rights and public procurements will also be promoted.

The meeting also focused on the need for closer cooperation between government institutions and the private sector.

"Private sector representatives have said they would submit proposals on targeted activities in individual sectors, in order to achieve better results in the following period", stressed Vitez.