Turkey-Macedonia economic ties should boost on heels of shared culture: Turkish PM

Close cultural ties between Turkey and Macedonia are valuable for business and the two countries should elevate their economic relations to the level their historic partnership deserves, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said while visiting Macedonia.

"These lands are no stranger to us. The culture and texture of these lands are part of our culture and texture. This cultural closeness is important for the business world," Davutoğlu said during a working breakfast with the representatives of Turkey-Macedonia Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 23, the second day of his visit to the Macedonian capital of Skopje.

"Macedonia has an atmosphere where one can easily communicate with everybody like they are in Anatolia. This is significant in terms of economic relations," he said.

However, Davutoğlu expressed reproach that the two countries' trade and investment relations are not at the desired level.

"Turkey currently ranks 13th in Macedonia's exports. On the other hand, our exports to Macedonia are at eighth place. I wouldn't even accept second place in Macedonia-Turkey relations," he stated.
Once again referring to the shared history and culture of Macedonians and Turks, as well as the warm political ties between the governments, Davutoğlu said "economic relations should be at the highest level, considering the intensity of cultural and political relations."

"If you were to ask me whether the statistics show our relationship in other fields, it doesn't," he stressed, noting he thinks there are enough materials to upgrade Turkish-Macedonian trade volume to a record level.

He also vowed to do whatever necessary to realize the long-lasting trade volume target of $1 billion, recalling the countries' trade volume was...