Skopje, 2 September 2022 (MIA) – Former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev received Friday a Grand Plaque from the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia as recognition for outstanding contribution in the establishment and operation of the Open Balkan initiative. The plaque was presented to Zaev within the “Wine Vision by Open Balkan” fair in Belgrade, in the framework of the Chamber’s 100th anniversary. “I would like to thank the Economic Chamber for the honor bestowed to the leaders of the three countries that are part of the Open Balkan initiative, because we can do much more for the countries’ economies only if we are united, leading to faster development of the region and well-being of citizens,” said Zaev. The ex-PM added that as businessmen, he would continue to support all initiatives within the Open Balkan process, since they have an impact on the development of businesses, budget revenues and the area’s economic prospects, while expressing hope that all countries in the region would join the initiative, on the common path to the European Union. There have been many initiatives for further regional development but they all ended unsuccessfully and came from the outside. Open Balkan is a concept supported from the inside, by political leaders in the countries of the process, but even more by companies that require closer cooperation, networking, joint promotion at third markets, a regional process that benefits the entire region. Zaev invested sincere efforts as Prime Minister between 2017 and 2021, alongside Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, to develop and create the initiative over a single market and establishment of an economic zone that will further improve political and economic relations and strengthen ties among people and businesses, says the Chamber. The award was presented to Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the Open Balkan Summit in Ohrid this June.