Skopje, 3 November 2022 (MIA) - A record high budget for road infrastructure has been prepared for 2023 and we expect that together with the public state roads enterprise we will invest EUR 350-400 million, Transport Minister Blagoj Bochvarski said in his opening speech at the Second Macedonian Road Congress 2022 in Skopje. "The government through the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the public road enterprises is strongly committed to implementing the national transport strategy, which includes construction and modernization of the country's road network. Our policies have a clear goal - to create a quality road network, improve the quality of living standards and accelerate economic growth and development of the country," Minister Bochvarski said adding that over one billion euros have been invested over the past several years for the construction and reconstruction of over 1,300 kilometers of road network. Good infrastructure is one of the main preconditions for a country's development, stressed Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi. "We have to change this state of almost 30 years. It seems the projection and construction of our roads is our Achilles' heel. Well-planned projection would facilitate their implementation and adequate planning will allow us not to run into problems like the current ones we have," Bytyqi said addressing the event. Now, he stated, it's the right time to change the approach and apply the best practices of the developed countries helping us not face the problems we have now when constructing roads. "The time has come instead of the value of projects to talk about their quality," the Deputy Premier urged. The Second Macedonian Road Congress 2022 is organized by the Association for Roads, which this year marks its 55th anniversary. "I believe we will continue our fruitful cooperation and we'll keep seeking ways to overcome issues that occur inevitably when major projects are implemented," said Ejup Rustemi, the head of the Public Enterprise for State Roads, one of the founders of the Association.