In this period, Macedonia became a developed market in Ottoman Empire. The increasing commercial activities brought large fairs, which prevented the rich Slavs strenghten economically. Local trade was more important for Ottoman Empire than foreign trade as in all raw material producer countries. Most of the European countries had economic relation with Ottoman Empire. Selaniko was the second biggest port after Istanbul. Agricultural products, minerals and livestock products were exported to such European countries such as France, Austria, Italy, USA, Belgium, Sweden, Norway etc. Export and import balance developed in favor of European countries from 19th century to First Balkan War. The construction of railways started after Crimean War in order to enrich the resources of the country. Between 1870-1900, telegram and telephone lines were built and post offices were opened. Maritime Lines started to connect the trade centers to consumer and production places.
In order to make the financial reform in the Ottoman Empire there should be built banks and similar systems. So Banks were established. These banks, namely Ottoman Bank and Ziraat Bank, opened branches in far towns and cities such as Uskup, Selaniko, Manastir etc. Other than European countries, which benefited privileges, some neighbor countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia, also opened bank branches to serve non-Muslim Ottoman citizens. They established some anonym companies and controlled the most of Macedonian capital. Kurushova Economy Society (Bank) was established with this capital and partnership of the regional rich Kurushova family in 1908.
European countries and the USA established many banks and companies in commerce, railways, maritime line, mail and telephone service, transportation fields etc. Benefiting from the basic rights and freedom given by Ottoman Empire, Macedonian Slav people founded bank and fund companies at the end of 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Rich cotton merchants, Petko Todorov, Nikola Hacı Traykov, Sazdo Hacı Antonov, Atanas Pop Burkoviç, Konstantin Klisarov, Petko S. Darkaçev founded moneyfund company "Lyubof" at the end of 19th century.
Alcohol drink merchants founded Grozd Company in 1905 and market owners in Uskup established Terazi Company in 1907. After the announcement of second Constitutional Monarchy, some Macedonian traders founded some money and credit funds in Uskup with the support of Petre Yakimov, Vladimir P. Anastasov, Torna Zdravev, Lazar Hacı Arsov, Todor Hacı Vasilev and Kosta Kralov. In 1911, another money fund was established in the city. These establishments and banks increased the strength of Macedonian Slavic people.
To be continued