The Corridor 8, the AMBO pipeline and the Bunardzik free economic zone were the major projects presented Tuesday to the Croatian businessmen at the business forum in the Economic Chamber of Macedonia. The managements of 44 Croatian companies were informed on the potentials of these regional projects.

Vele Samak, Minister Without Portfolio Responsible for Foreign Investments, told the Croatian businessmen not to look at Macedonia as a market of 2 million people, but as the central part of the Balkans. He stressed that Macedonia had excellent transport and communications, good fiscal policy and low tax rates.

The vice president of the Croatian Economic Chamber, Sime Vudulin, said trade between Macedonia and Croatia was insufficient, particularly since 2000 when the disproportion occurred, which now stands at four to one in favor of Macedonia. The cooperation is expected to intensify in 2007 with the expansion of CEFTA.

Macedonia's trade with the countries of the Western Balkans last year accounted for 18.81 percent of the country's overall foreign trade, while exports to these countries made up 30.22 percent of Macedonia's overall exports.