Macedonian and Kosovo Economy Ministers, Valon Saraqini and Besim Beqaj respectively, agreed Friday in Pristina on intensifying cooperation in the sectors of energy, tourism, agriculture, environment, cluster association, and SME development.

Interlocutors also stressed the necessity for improvement of infrastructure, which would be in the governments' focus in order to meet the requirements of the business community.

"Talks focused on enhancement of relations in the economic fields defined within the bilateral Agreement on Economic Cooperation, which has been implemented since June 2010. The objective is to use European funds in a portion of the planned projects", said Minister Saraqini after the meeting.

Priority of the Kosovo government is economic development through specific activities in all spheres, also including regional businessmen.

"Infrastructure and energy are most important fields where we want to involve domestic and regional businessmen through the creation of favorable conditions", stressed Beqaj.

Minister Saraqini also met with Vice Premier Mimoza Kusari - Lila, who said that Macedonia is a very important trading partner for Kosovo.

The three ministers addressed the Kosovo-Macedonia business forum, which brought together about 100 companies from the two countries.

Saraqini said Macedonia's economy aspires for greater competitiveness, urging Kosovo businessmen to invest in the country.

"Use the CEFTA benefits, taking into account that investments will encompass the needs of a 28-million consumer market. The intention of Macedonia's trade policy is the establishment of a horizontal framework that encompasses business climate benefits, investment attraction and knowledge innovations. This will enable the creation of new export and import structure, sustainable economic growth and improvement of the living standard", stressed Saraqini.

He said Macedonia has passed a number of strategies for support of industrial policies, development of energy potentials, tourism and export promotion.

"We recently got involved in many EU programs for business support in member-states and candidate-countries. The idea is to finance strategic projects, which could have mutual interest through inclusion of Kosovo businessmen, according to the principle of joint investments", underlined Economy Minister Saraqini.

The first session of the Mixed Committee for monitoring of the bilateral Agreement on Economic Cooperation implementation will also be held today.

The meeting will focus on reconstruction and modernization of existing road infrastructure, as well as construction of a new terminal for commodities aimed at facilitating access to Macedonian and Kosovo markets.

Moreover, Minister Saraqini announced the planned conclusion of a bilateral cooperation agreement in the tourism sector, thus establishing the legal framework for joint performance, promotion of joint tourism products, as well as facilitating the flow of tourists.

Kosovo is Macedonia's seventh trading partner, with a US$390 million exchange in the first eight months of 2011, which represents a 28-percent increase compared to last year.