(ANSA) - SKOPJE - Goods estimated at half a billion euros have been exported in the first three months of 2018 by the companies currently operating in the free ecoconomic zones in Macedonia. The positive trend of exporting from the technological and industrial zones is resuming. Foreign direct investments have completely altered the structure of Macedonian export. Exchange has become more balanced, the country exports commodities abroad that have higher added value.

Export value in the first three months of this year rose by 13 per cent compared to the same period in 2017. Export value in the first three months exceeded 552 million Euros'', officials from the Directorate for Technological and Industrial Development Zones underlined as Mia press agency reports. Since the beginning of the year, exporting has exceeded all expectations and can play an important role in this year's economic growth, said Dimitar Bogov, Governor of the National Bank of Macedonia. Under the new economic program, the government has signed deals with nine foreign investors who are expected to launch their investments in the economic zones. The estimated value of the new investments is 38 million Euros and it is projected the plants to create jobs for over 2,100 people.

(ANSA).