The “Prespa Business Forum” was organized by the Municipality of Resen, in partnership with the Municipality of Korca and the Municipality of Pustec. The event was held from the 1-2 December, 2016 at the hotel “Lakeview” in Otesevo, FYR of Macedonia.

The main goal of this regional event was to create an opportunity for achievement of greater and wider cooperation in the sectors of tourism, agriculture and food industry, as well as to initiate economic benefit for the local population in the cross-border region of Prespa.

The presentations at the Forum were focused on the economic conditions, capacities and opportunities in the three municipalities of the cross-border region of Prespa and were conducted by representatives from the business sector and the municipalities. The participants also had the opportunity to hold B2B meetings and propose measures and activities which were reflected in the conclusions needed for future action.

More than 40 participants from the cross-border region of Prespa attended the event. The delegations from the three municipalities were represented by the mayors of the municipalities, representatives of the business sector, and other regional stakeholders working in the sectors of tourism, agriculture and food industry, as well as the Ambassador of FYR of Macedonia in Tirana – Mr. Stojan Karajanov.

The second day of the event, was dedicated on a study tour where two companies operating in the production of facilities in Resen were visited by the participants. Also, direct B2B meetings were organized, for the establishment of possible cooperation between the participants.

This activity is part of the European Union funded project: “Fostering regional cooperation and balanced territorial development of Western Balkan countries in the process towards EU integration” implemented by the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in South-Eastern Europe.