Skopje, 30 November 2021 (MIA) – The economies over the past several months have recorded major loses and drop in almost all sectors. Recruiting quality staff to respond to the needs of businesses is still a problem, which requires joint actions to be taken. Cooperation with governments must resume and it is also necessary to eliminate barriers for running a business in the region by launching new initiatives and resuming existing ones, urged the Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC), which is holding a general assembly on Tuesday. The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) chaired the online event that focuses on support for companies, new services created by the chambers and regional cooperation. The Western Balkan chambers of commerce agreed that they are leaders in following global and European trends through the digitization process. It is also necessary the companies to be in the focus, new services stemming from their demands and needs to be constantly offered aimed at increasing their competitiveness. Regional cooperation should continue to intensify and all ABC chambers should invest energy in joining joint projects proving to be beneficial for each economy individually and also for the whole region, the ABC says in its conclusions. Jelisaveta Georgieva-Jovevska of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia at the event presented the Chamber’s measures taken to aid the companies to address the challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Changes to the law on customs tariffs are in the final stages, under which to reduce import duties for raw materials will be conditioned. “For export-oriented companies, which have been keeping our economy afloat now and in the future, the measure proves to be a strong support in strengthening the competitiveness of domestic products and an opportunity to be more present in markets abroad,” she said, adding efforts are also made to reduce or revoke parafiscal tax, something which the Economic Chambers has been demanding for years. “Measures to support investment activities of the companies were a priority in order to improve their productivity and competitiveness by expanding programs for investment support for local companies through the law on financial support for investments and the law on strategic investments with call for bolstered application of the public-private partnership concept primarily in energy, infrastructure, environment, health and education,” said Georgieva-Jovevska. Regarding regional cooperation, she mentioned the Chamber Investment Forum (CIF) and the Open Balkan initiative. “Our regional cooperation and networking the companies from our countries with the countries in the region and beyond is very important in the coming period in order to enter third markets and to create even better relations or cooperation between our business communities,” said the representatives of North Macedonia’s Chamber. We, Georgieva-Jovevska concluded, continue together to work on ABC priorities to improve cooperation between the business communities in the region and with third countries, to stimulate activities aimed at structural reforms in the Balkan economies in view of EU integration, to initiate and implement joint projects in the Balkan region and joint participation in EU programs and funds. The general assembly also saw addresses by top officials of all ABC chambers. The Chamber of Commerce of Cyprus will chair ABC next year.