INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES FOR CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION BETWEEN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA IN THE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
Keywords:
cross-border cooperation, forestry, infrastructure, competitiveness, innovations, virtual officeAbstract
In this paper we will analyze the data acquired from the field survey of implementing innovative initiatives for cross-border cooperation of companies in the forestry department in: the north-east, east, and south-east planning region of the Republic of Macedonia and the Blagoevgrad and Kjustendil area in the Republic of Bulgaria. With the research we have observed the conditions in the department, as well as the levels of cooperation among the companies from both neighboring countries. Problems in the following segments of the companies’ work have been noted: infrastructure, work force, old-fashioned technologies, low level of using information technologies, legislation, etc. From the results obtained, despite the big potential and possibilities, we have concluded that the level of cooperation among the companies from the both neighboring countries is very low.
With the field research we have detected possibilities for cooperation in: improving the infrastructure, implementing new technologies, development of competitiveness, implementing innovations, etc. The idea for establishing a virtual office has been assessed with a very positive rating, an office which would provide a detailed basis of data for all the interested subjects, as well as possibilities for communication among the subjects in order to exchange experiences and cooperation in business. This virtual office is also planned to offer an educational and consulting platform for the needs of the companies.
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