The government and the business community will work together to improve export by implementing strategies and manufacturing competitive products.

They discussed future activities at the seventh conference on export improvement organised by the Ministry of Economy.

Government representatives said the intention was to increase the number of Macedonian companies dealing with export as well as the quantities of export. They expect the trend of export increase to be resumed and Macedonian companies to be better promoted on foreign markets through country's economic promoters.

"Only 5 percent of the active companies in Macedonia are in fact into export. Attempts will be made for that figure to be increased as well as the structure, which at the moment covers mostly products with low level of added value. However, as of this year the export structure is being changed as a result of the work of companies in free economic zones - metals are not the only products being exported annually, but car components are also being exported. We believe the trend will continue taking into account the number of free economic zones under construction and coming investments," Vice PM in charge of economic affairs, Vladimir Pesevski stated.

Minister of Economy Valon Saracini noted that the government had been making efforts to support export, adding that an export promotion strategy was prepared in cooperation with the World Bank.

Representatives of the Association of Chambers of Commerce said that companies needed to work on creating products and services that would be competitive abroad and urged small enterprises to promote themselves jointly on foreign markets.

They said that investments in infrastructure and new industrial facilities could boost export.

Export was increased by 29% in 2010, whereas it is expected 2011 to come to an end with an increase in export of 21.2% in comparison with 2010.