On 2 September 2025, the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia hosted a session of the Center for Circular Economy, where more than 20 companies and representatives of Helvetas discussed the next steps in advancing the circular business model and its application within Macedonian companies.

Key items on the agenda included discussions on the Green Agenda and the consequences of its implementation—or lack thereof; the presentation of the Information on Opportunities for Supporting Companies in Green Growth and Development and the possibility for member companies of the Center for Circular Economy to apply; as well as the presentation of the draft platform Register for Secondary Raw Materials.

Companies were informed about the opportunity to apply for grants through a co-financing mechanism, with the aim of achieving the goals outlined in the Information on Opportunities for Supporting Companies in Green Growth and Development. This would be realized through scientific research expertise and training programs designed to strengthen employees’ green skills—activities that would significantly contribute to improving their work and production processes in line with global green development.

Also presented was the draft platform for secondary raw materials, which aims to collect in one place, in a single database (in the first phase at the national level), all the necessary information/data. These would come, on the one hand, from companies whose production processes generate secondary raw materials, and on the other hand, from companies seeking specific (secondary) raw materials as input materials. The platform’s priority task will be to enable easier matching and more efficient use of resources. Currently still in the design and refinement stage, the platform will be further shaped by input and proposals from participants in the period ahead.

The Chamber emphasized that an exchange of ideas with member companies is now underway, with the goal of identifying needs and challenges which, once translated into concrete proposals, will be taken into account when developing project ideas. The EU, as the largest donor, places particular emphasis on the circular economy and the Green Agenda.