Macedonia and Turkey agree direct air route and cargo rail link at Istanbul business forum

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski met Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu in Istanbul during the Macedonian‑Turkish business forum. The three leaders signed agreements to launch a direct Ankara‑Skopje airline service and a cargo railway connection, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $2 billion. Nikoloski emphasized Turkey as one of Macedonia’s most important economic partners and urged Turkish firms to join international tenders, noting their growing role in the Macedonian market and job creation. Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in transport, logistics, civil aviation and rail infrastructure to strengthen regional connectivity and investment.