Skopje, 15 August 2021 (MIA) – Companies active in free economic zones recorded an increase of jobs by 8.13 percent compared to the same month in 2020 and almost one percent compared to June 2021, the Free Zones Authority said on Sunday. There are currently 14,240 employees in the zones, with existing investors obliged to open additional 7,000 jobs in accordance with their contracts. The regular monthly analysis shows a positive trend in exports and imports. Total exports in the first seven months of 2021 exceeded little over EUR 1 billion, a 56-percent increase compared to the same period in 2020, seven percent more compared to 2019, and 30 percent more than 2018. The share of companies operating in the zones exceeds 45 percent of total exports. Total imports in the zones over the past seven months stands at EUR 1,767 billion, a 77-percent increase compared to the same period in 2020. Agreements worth over EUR 120 million have been concluded since the beginning of the year, set to open 1,970 new jobs, reads the press release.