Macedonian enterprises only with competitive and innovative products can endure these difficult moments, Minister of Economy Valon Saracini stated.

"Macedonia's economy is small and is nearly 60% open for export intended for the European market. Therefore, it's unlikely that the country will stay immune to the crisis in the European Union. I think that only innovation can help us to stand on solid ground. Efforts will be made for the establishment of a so called triangle - government-universities-business community in an attempt forces to be joined regarding projects and activities for economic development," Saracini told a press conference on Wednesday.

He said the government was communicating with the business community considering their demands to boost innovation.

"With innovative products we can become competitive on global markets. I call on the companies to try and be more competitive and more innovative in order to face their competition, otherwise the crisis will consume them," the minister noted.

The government, Saracini added, through the ministries of economy and education is implementing an active policy to encourage companies to be more innovative.

Minister of Education and Science Pance Kralev said that future objective was to include the academic community into the development of a dialogue with the business community.

"Macedonia's scientific potential lays a solid foundation for cooperation and establishment of future innovative policies," Kralev stated.

Currently, 0.3% of country's GDP was singled out for scientific and research activities, according to him.

"A strategy is being developed for scientific and research activities that should pave the way for increasing the current percent to 3% of the GDP - the average percent used by EU countries for the same purpose," Kralev said.