Macedonia talks with COSCO for a logistical, manufacturing zone

Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski said that Macedonia is in talks with the Chinese forwarder COSCO to identify a location for a long term logistical zone. Speaking at a conference on 27.4.2015 organized by Macedonian Railroads and the giant Chinese shipping company, Pesevski said that this logistical zone could also serve as a future economic zone with light manufacturing, similar to the special status give to almost 20 locations for industrial development across Macedonia. COSCO made a long term investment in the Greek main port of Piraeus, near Athens, and is bidding to acquire a two/thirds share of the entire port, all the while Balkan countries are in talks with China about the idea to build a high speed railroad from Greece to Central Europe.

"We have identified the possibility to turn Macedonia into a logistical center along this corridor. The goal of this meeting with COSCO is to work with Macedonian Railroads to identify a location that could be a long term center, and could serve as a basis for a manufacturing zone. We are already in talks with the Chinese Government for the construction of a high speed railroad, and in the meantime, we are working independently on about 10 projects to build new railroad stations and rebuild the existing infrastructure, purchase new engines and cars", Pesevski said on Monday.

The Piraeus port, where COSCO is a major investor, welcomes 24.000 freight ships annually, many of them bringing Chinese manufacturing products for the European market. Macedonia already has about 60 percent of its total imports cross through Piraeus and the Solun (Thessaloniki) ports. The Prime Ministers of Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary met recently with the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang to discuss the possibility that China invests in a high speed rail link from Athens to Budapest, that would bring goods from Piraeus to Central Europe quickly and easily.

Jelisaveta Georgieva, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, said that Macedonian business will welcome the creation of logistic points along the north - south railroad corridor that connects Greece with Serbia. "The idea for better and more efficient infrastructural link with major economic centers, including Piraeus, is not new for the business community. Given the need to access new, emerging markets, it is important to use this, nearest and most economical commercial link", Georgieva said.

( Source: Government of Republic of Macedonia)