Skopje, 24 October 2024 (MIA) -- Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov and British Council Director for Serbia and the Western Balkans Clare Sears signed Thursday a memorandum of understanding for 2024-27 to strengthen cooperation in the arts, culture, and creative economy, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said in a press release.

The signed memorandum reaffirms the 30-year partnership and friendship between North Macedonia and the United Kingdom and provides greater access to British Council programs in the country, the release said.

The programs involve capacity-building activities in the visual arts, film, music, theater, games, technology, cultural heritage, design, architecture, fashion and publishing industries.

The cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the British Council will be based on an exchange of experiences and knowledge as well as various projects boosting the creative economy and enriching the country's cultural offer, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Ljutkov as quoted in the release.

Ljutkov said the memorandum, as a platform of innovation and creativity, would provide new opportunities for cultural exchange and cooperation between artists. This, in turn, would contribute to improving the cultural dialogue and developing the local cultural scene, he said, adding that the memorandum would help artists to network, exchange ideas, and take part in international projects.

British Council director Sears voiced her expectation that the memorandum of understanding would deepen cultural ties and initiate the implementation of various projects.

Sears said the signing of the memorandum marked the beginning of a new era in the UK's cooperation with North Macedonia. She said the British Council would be directly involved in strengthening the country's creative economy and showcasing the talent of North Macedonia on the international stage. She added she was looking forward to many joint projects with Minister Ljutkov, the release said.

UK Ambassador Matthew Lawson, who attended the signing, said the memorandum of understanding was an important step in the long-term, productive cooperation between the two countries. He said it was also a confirmation of the deepening British-Macedonian cultural ties.

He said the UK had a lot to offer for the development of the cultural economy sector in the country by working together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in supporting various projects through the British Council. mr/