Travel of businessmen to meetings from Prague to Skopje and back has been done with stopovers, which often lasted for several hours and complicated the trade relations of businessmen from the Czech Republic and North Macedonia. That is why the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Skopje in cooperation with Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources S. Bozhinovska initiated a proposal for introducing a direct flight between both countries. This project was discussed with several ministers and significant representatives of the state and private area of both countries. Ambassador J. Ludva discussed the project among others with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of North Macedonia A. Nikoloski, with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic as well as with the general manager of the Václav Havel Airport in Prague and Skopje International Airport.

A significant impulse was done by including the project proposal to the agenda of the Joint Committee for bilateral economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and North Macedonia that was held in March this year at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. The Macedonian delegation was led by Minister S. Bozhinovska. At the session of the Joint Committee at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic afore-mentioned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport A. Nikoloski expressed interest in strengthening the cooperation and introduction of the direct flight. He discussed the direct flight and the further cooperation in the Czech Republic with the Minister of Transport M. Kupka. The main meeting of the delegation from both countries was preceded by a seminar for businessmen for the support of development of trade and tourism, with the participation of Ambassador J. Ludva, the General Managers of Václav Havel Airport and Skopje International Airport, the national coordinator for tourism of North Macedonia A. Mahmut and the board members of the Association of Czech Tour Operators and Travel Agents.

The direct flights between Prague and Skopje since December 15 thee times a week will be operated by the Wizz Air airline. The planned introduction of the direct flight between Prague and Skopje was welcomed by businessmen from both countries. The Economic Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Skopje has already received positive reactions e.g. from the company association Ceska dobyvaci technika and from the tour operator EXPERITOUR, who is already planning tours to North Macedonia by using the direct flights.

Kvetoslav Sulek
Economic diplomat
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Skopje