Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and the Government team are satisfied from the turnout of Turkish companies and their interest to invest in Macedonia. About 1,700 companies have attended presentations over the past four days, which is the largest number in countries visited thus far, MIA reports from Bursa.

PM Gruevski said after completing the Turkey visit that about 50 companies, mainly from the light industry, have expressed interest for individual meetings and specific information.

"We visited seven Turkish cities in the past four days. According to calculations, there were about 1,700 companies attending our presentations, which is the largest number we have ever had in any other country. We have not seen such interest, as is the case with Turkey, for doing business and investing in Macedonia", said Gruevski.

According to him, the tour targeted Turkish companies which have achieved the maximum in their own country and want to open new capacities in other states.

"Family businesses and light industry is highly developed in Turkey, where the major interest came from. Some have already announced their arrival to Macedonia in the coming months, in order to witness the situation on the spot and review other details which are important for them when starting a business", added Gruevski.

He voiced satisfaction from the response of investors, but also announcements for individual meetings with companies from the food industry, agriculture, health, electronics, construction, mainly exporting companies with approximately 500-1,000 employees.

The Government team also expects return visits by the chambers of commerce and Turkish officials, which would represent an additional impetus for investments in Macedonia.

"The Turkish government has provided enormous support for their businessmen to come to Macedonia. PM Erdogan did this at an Istanbul business forum, but also other government ministers. Turkey's enormous support for Macedonia has been reconfirmed", underlined PM Gruevski.

In the course of their stay in Turkey, the Government team presented Macedonia's investment benefits at fora in Istanbul, Kayseri, Konya, Gaziantep, Izmir and Bursa. In addition, PM Gruevski met with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, as well as several ministers. Moreover, the Directorate for Technological-Industrial Developments Zones (DTIDZ) and Turkey's Directorate of Organized Industrial Zones signed a cooperation protocol, which foresees exchange of experiences and information among the institutions.