Skopje, 18 January 2022 (MIA) – Introducing a new Sofia-Skopje airline will contribute to bringing the two nations closer and boosting economic relations and tourism, concluded North Macedonia’s Transport Minister Blagoj Bochvarski and his Bulgarian counterpart Nikolay Sabev. Leading up to the joint session of the governments of North Macedonia and Bulgaria by the end of January, details will be defined about launching the airline, agreed Bochavrski and Sabev, who is accompanying Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov during his visit to Skopje. During the meeting, Minister Bochavrski opened the issue of liberalization of transport of goods to and from third countries. The two ministers agreed cooperation of the joint transport commissions tasked with working on full liberalization of transport of goods. Also, Bochvarski emphasized the issue of modernizing border crossings and opening a new one near Berovo. “Regarding the railway Corridor 8, talks focused on the construction of a joint border tunnel connecting the two countries as part of the railway connectivity project. Minister Bochavrski said the project is estimated at EUR 600 million. The Kumanovo-Kriva Palanka section will start construction in the spring and construction works for the section from Kriva Palanka to the border with Bulgaria will start next year,” the Transport Ministry said. In road infrastructure, North Macedonia is investing over EUR 200 million to modernize roads toward Bulgaria. “We will have new, modern and safe road from Skopje to the Deve Bair border crossing with the construction of Rankovce-Kriva Palanka expressway by mid-2023,” said the Ministry. The two ministers, it added, agreed to meet more frequently in order to accelerate regional connectivity and implementation of projects of mutual interest.