The drop in trade exchange between FYRMacedonia and Serbia, which stands at $600 million since the beginning of the year as a result of the global economic crisis, can be recovered only with joint projects and investments by related firms from both countries.

The situation requires greater usage of opportunities offered by CEFTA and other business treaties, which hasn't been the case so far.

These were the messages conveyed by businessmen from Macedonian and Serbian firms - members of regional economic chambers based in Skopje and Kraljevo - at Wednesday's meetings in the Economic Chamber of Macedonia.

- Since Serbia is our first economic partner, we would like to recover the trade exchange as in 2008 when it stood at almost $1,5 billion and to restore the deficit with Serbia, stated Goran Rafajlovski, chairman of the Regional Chamber Skopje.

With the trade exchange with Serbia, which in the first nine months decreased by 51%, FYRMacedonia's export decreased by $454 million i.e. 62,9% and import was lowered by $129 million i.e. 31,5%.

Chairman of Kraljevo's Regional Economic Chamber Mladomir Novakovic said Serbian firms from the region were chiefly interested in cooperation in the fields of agriculture and metal industry.

The economic region of Kraljevo is second in size and business development in Serbia following Belgrade.

Statistical data obtained recently show that Serbia is the first foreign trade partner of FYRMacedonia. Despite 2009 data revealing drop of exchange by 51%, in the period between 2000 and 2007 there's a constant growth of trade surplus from FYRMacedonia, except in 2003. FYRMacedonia exports mostly vegetables, wine in Serbia and import wheat, flour, water, raw oil, milk and dairy products.