The official start of construction works on the 36km - Stip-Negotino gas pipeline has been marked Tuesday in a presence of Premier Emil Dimitriev, Transport/Communications Minister Vlado Misajlovski, ruling VMRO-DPMNE leader and the Macedonian Energy Resources director Krste Miladinov.

The EUR 16m - project, which is to be realized by a Macedonian consortium under the leadership of Kumanovo-based company 'Rapid Build', should be completed by the end of 2017.

The construction of a national gas transpiration system will bolster the economic development of all regions in Macedonia, PM Dimitriev said.

It will advance the conditions for production, improve the competitiveness of domestic products and hence their export abroad. Such processes will contribute to further development of existing companies and stimulate an establishment of new ones, which means creation of jobs, Dimitriev said.