The development of road, railway, and energy infrastructure is an imperative for the economic advancement of the Pelagonija region, it was emphasized at the joint meeting of the management boards of the Regional Chambers based in Bitola and Prilep, held in Bitola.

The meeting, initiated by the business community, focused on key infrastructure challenges and potentials in the region, with particular emphasis on the road and railway network, gas infrastructure, energy capacities, as well as environmental protection projects and available sources of financing.

In addition to representatives of the business community, the meeting was attended by the Deputy President of the Government and Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski; the Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor, Marjan Risteski; the Deputy Minister of Finance, Nikolche Jankulovski; and the Director of the Public Enterprise for State Roads, Koce Trajanovski.

As host, the President of the Regional Chamber based in Bitola, Mirko Velkovski, emphasized that investments in infrastructure, although they may appear economically unjustified in the short term, bring significant long-term benefits for the economy and society.

The President of the Regional Chamber based in Prilep, Nikola Marinovski, noted that cooperation between the Chamber and the Government is at a good level, which represents an important foundation for accelerated regional development. He added that companies from Pelagonija agree on the need for joint action to achieve economic progress.

Deputy President of the Government and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski highlighted to the attending business representatives that the construction of the Prilep–Bitola motorway is progressing at a strong pace, with expectations that by next spring traffic will already be running on one carriageway in both directions, and that the entire motorway could be completed ahead of schedule. Negotiations are underway for a new route from Farish to Prilep as a highway solution, while work is ongoing on the design of a bypass for Prilep and the construction of the one for Resen, as well as on the conceptual design for the Bitola–Medjitlija bypass, the district heating pipeline for Bitola, the construction of gas infrastructure, and other projects that will provide a strong economic impetus for the development of the Pelagonija region.

During the discussion, the need was emphasized for the business sector and the Government to work together with the two railway companies—Macedonian Railways Infrastructure and Macedonian Railways Transport—to increase the use of rail transport as a far more cost-effective alternative. It was also announced that in June a new city train will be introduced, operating on the Prilep–Bitola–Zhabeni route.

It was further highlighted that Pelagonija is a border region adjacent to an EU Member State, Greece, whose bordering regions—with around one million inhabitants—have significantly greater prospects for economic development and higher contributions to GDP, for which this region also possesses the potential and capacity.