A Government economic team expects Turkish companies to show increased interest in investing in Macedonia as it is presenting opportunities and advantages for foreign investors. Business forums are packed and interest is mainly shown in the metalworking, automotive, woodworking and food industry.

"We are convinced that these visits will result in at least several investments, which of course require time. However, the Macedonian Government continues presenting Macedonia in other countries. There is interest from light manufacturing companies, which are quite big in Turkey making a significant export into European countries. But they seek destinations where fresh production can be launched. Macedonia sees its chance here, because the country is significantly closer to Europe than Turkey," Vice-Premier for Economic Affairs, Vladimir Pesevski said after a presentation on Tuesday before 220 companies in Gaziantep - an industrial center and one of the fastest emerging provinces in Turkey.

Inviting Turkish businessmen to invest in Macedonia, Pesevski said they should do that because Macedonia offered an access to a market of 650 million consumers enabled through free trade agreements with several countries, had an excellent geo-strategical location toward Europe's market, low taxes, macroeconomic stability...

"Hundreds of projects are under way to advance the business climate - cutting down procedures, costs and direct interaction between the state and companies online," Pesevski said adding that the Government in the past five years had enabled Macedonia with a series of activities to be like any European country.

Tuskon president Mehmet Ali Mutafoglu told businessmen to take advantage of the opportunities and to invest in Macedonia.

"Macedonia is expected to improve its relations with the EU. We should enter the market as soon as possible. I think we can be the first ones to invest there and to seize the opportunity," he stated.

Business presentations are to be held in Izmir and Bursa. The Macedonian delegation is led by PM Nikola Gruevski.