Serbia and Macedonia should work jointly to promote the European textile sector, speakers concluded during meetings organized by the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion of the Republic of Macedonia, together with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Textile Trade Association of Macedonia-Textile Cluster, supported by the Macedonian Embassy in Belgrade, Tanjug news reported.
The meetings concluded that the two countries have a great capacity for development of the textile industry, noting that promoting trade in Europe paves the way to the markets of over 800 million consumers. The aim of the meetings included presenting Macedonia textile manufacturers in the Serbian market and making contacts with textile companies, garment manufacturers, manufacturers and traders of fabric, manufacturers with own brand product, clothes for children, and other representatives.
The purpose of the networking meetings were to present a bigger total production capacity, given that Macedonia and Serbia are among the most favourable destinations for quick delivery of small batches to European manufacturers of branded clothes.
Milorad Vasiljevic, secretary of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said Serbia has signed free trade agreements which help its products reach the EU, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey and other countries.
He noted that trade in the Serbian textile industry amounted to US$ 530 million last year, and expressed hope that it will be further promoted based on an agreement on cooperation signed by Serbia and Macedonia.
Macedonian Ambassador to Serbia, Vera Jovanovska Tipko, said the textile industry is of strategic importance for Macedonia since the annual export revenue for Macedonia stands at € 400 million.
She said that Macedonia, as well as Serbia, employs around 40,000 people in this sector, adding that the goal is to connect manufacturers and sellers in the two countries so that they could together penetrate regional and other markets.
Rados Vukicevic, representative of the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion, Macedonia, said the two countries have an advantage in the textile sector when compared to Asian and Chinese producers when it comes to delivering small quantity within short deadlines at competitive prices.
