Turkey’s government delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah Isler (fifth from right) during a visit to Macedonia. [Facebook/NGruevski]

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah Isler visited Skopje last month and met with Macedonia Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to discuss ways to continue strengthening bi-lateral relations and increase economic and trade ties, officials said.

Gruevski said the government’s goal is to continue to ensure there is a business climate that makes Macedonia an attractive destination for Turkish investors.

“Macedonia is open to Turkish investors, which can be concluded by the investments of many Turkish companies so far,” Gruevski said.

Macedonian officials made a presentation outlining the advantages Macedonia offers to investors, from low taxes, inexpensive land and a competitive labour force to benefits for production facilities.

Isler said Turkey’s government has actively encouraged interest among the Turkish business community and will continue to do so.

Turkey is Macedonia’s eighth-largest trading partner, and Turkish businessmen have invested about 1 billion euros in Macedonia in the food, construction and services sectors.

Last month, the Turkish milk producer Sutas announced it will increase its investment in Macedonia and double its production.

There are great opportunities for Turkish investors in Macedonia’s textile and agriculture sectors as well as in electrical power plants, said Hasan Hosben, head of the Macedonian-Turkish Business Council under Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK).

“Relations between the two countries can be even better thanks to the good relations between the two governments,” Hosben told SETimes.