SKOPJE (Macedonia), April 11 (SeeNews) – Croatian conglomerate Agrokor is expected to launch into operation a wholesale farm produce distribution centre in southeastern Macedonia on June 1, Macedonia's Economic Chamber said.
The wholesale distribution complex near the town of Strumica will have capacity to handle some 35,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually, the Economic Chamber said in a statement last week, quoting Macedonian Deputy Farm Minister Perica Ivanovski.
Agrokor's investment in the project is estimated at 15 million euro ($21.7 million), the director of the local Agrokor affiliate, Agrofruktus, Blagoj Vitanov told SeeNews earlier.
The government has provided 90 million denars ($2.1 million/1.5 million euro) for the construction of the power and road infrastructure needed for the operation of the distribution centre, the statement said.
Construction is underway of another six farm produce distribution centres: three in the Skopje region, one in Radovis, in eastern Macedonia, and one each in Valandovo and Gevgelija, in the south. The combined investment in these facilities is estimated at 2.0 million euro, Ivanovski said.
The distribution centers aim to boost agricultural exports and ensure farmers find buyers for their produce.
(1 euro=61.5271 Macedonian denars)