This entails a joint project to construct a high-speed railway linking Niš in Serbia to Skopje in North Macedonia, with plans to seek funding from the European Union.
The Memorandum was signed by Serbia’s Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, and North Macedonia’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Blagoj Bočvarski, in the presence of Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski.
Following the signing, it was highlighted that this memorandum paves the way for future development and connection between the two friendly nations. Moreover, railway infrastructure is a priority, given that rail transport is currently the most important mode of transport in Europe and globally, due to its ecological sustainability and efficiency.
Prime Minister Brnabić pointed out that Serbia and North Macedonia recorded a record trade exchange last year, reaching €1.48 billion.
“The trade exchange has increased by 28 percent compared to 2021. Over the last decade, the trade between the two countries has increased 2.4 times – from €608 million to €1.48 billion, with exports growing 2.6 times, and imports 2.2 times,” stated the Prime Minister.
Kovačevski mentioned that the Memorandum signifies the construction of a high-performance railway that will connect Belgrade and Skopje via Niš.
“The ultimate goal is to connect Athens, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Niš, Belgrade, Ljubljana, and Salzburg, with a branch to Budapest,” emphasized Kovačevski, noting that the Skopje–Niš–Belgrade section in North Macedonia will be 50 kilometers long in its first phase.
He highlighted the intention to build a completely new high-speed railway along Corridor 10, extending from Skopje to Thessaloniki, and then from Thessaloniki to Piraeus and Athens, with a commercial speed of at least 160 kilometers per hour.
The Prime Minister of North Macedonia also reminded that thanks to the Open Balkan initiative, numerous benefits have been realized, such as the synchronization and recognition of appropriate certificates, leading to increased regional competitiveness.
Kovačevski added that this is evident through the example of wine exports, where, according to the latest data, North Macedonia is the leading country in the region in this sector.
