Forty businessmen from companies that are members of the Independent Industrialist and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) attended Friday a Macedonian-Turkish business forum, held at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia in Skopje.

"The visiting delegation includes companies involved in construction, food industry, services and textile. We are interested to cooperate in these areas. During the visit, we hope to obtain more information regarding investment opportunities, said Abdurahman Cabuk, president of MUSIAD's Izmir office.

The goal of the visit is to improve relations with Macedonia and to hold bilateral talks with Macedonian companies, according to him.

The association includes 5,500 members in Turkey realizing an annual export of US$17 billion and providing jobs for 15,000 people in the country. "Recently, countries' relations have blossomed which contributes to improving trade and economic ties between businessmen," Cabuk said.

Ljubica Nuri - advisor for international cooperation at the Economic Chamber - said the meeting came as a result of the road show organised in February in Turkey by the PM and several ministers, where Macedonia was presented as an interesting investment and business destination.

"Turkey for us is a platform for joint promotion on third markets, including the countries in North Africa, Middle East and the Caucasus region. Macedonia can be used as a platform for the Balkans and the European Union by Turkey," Nuri concluded.