Sharing Turkey's experience with respect to natural gas with countries from the region is the focal point of a two-day international symposium on natural gas, INGAS 2010, which started Friday in Skopje in organisation of IGDAS - natural gas distributor in Istanbul.

Turkey has the most developed gas network in Europe with over 15.000 km lengthwise and it is the sixth biggest gas market in the world.

"On behalf of Turkish investors I can say that more than 60 companies are ready to come in Macedonia to invest if you open your doors, Mehmet Kazanci - Chairman of Turkey's GAZBIR company for gas distribution - told Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski who attended the opening of the symposium.

He said that Turkey was the safest destination for gas transportation from Caucasus to Europe.

IGDAS General Manager Bilal Aslan said the company was using state-of-art technologies and standards in gas distribution in the world, adding that 97% of the citizens of Istanbul (15 million) were using natural gas.

He stated that regional countries were unable to independently meet their energy needs, adding that this could be achieved through joint contracts and joint cooperation between Balkan countries.

PM Gruevski said that the energy sector was of highest importance for regional economies and the main precondition for economic growth and development.

"Stable energy supply is key for economic development. Thus the Government has put the energy sector high on its list of priorities”, said Gruevski.

He noted that a feasibility study on the gas line system in Macedonia had been already prepared which defined phases for realisation of the gas line system and its connection with existing and regional gas systems.

"Talks to connect the Macedonian gas line system with neighbouring ones are under way. Some of these negotiations have resulted with an agreement with Russia's Gazprom company Macedonia to join South Stream project”, said PM Gruevski.

Minister of Economy Fatmir Besimi said Macedonia was a small country with big wishes of economic growth, for which stable energy sources were necessary.

"At the moment 40% of the total energy needs are imported into Macedonia. Oil derivatives, electricity, coal, biomass, heating are mainly used by consumers in Macedonia. There is only one gas line in Macedonia", said Besimi.

"In order to boost natural gas consumption in Macedonia and in the region, we are prepared to work on overcoming obstacles and creating favourable investment climate for construction of gas line infrastructure", the Minister added.

Minister without portfolio Hadi Nezir - the main initiator for the symposium to be held in Skopje - said that the use of natural gas in Macedonia was lower than global averages.

"The presence of IGDAS and other factors is invaluable for the energy development in Macedonia", said Nezir urging more investments in Macedonia.

The symposium so far was held in Istanbul in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and this year it is organised in Skopje for the first time. Officials from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, FYRMacedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey are attending.