„Dimitrie Cupovski“ 13, 1000 Skopje +38923244000 ic@mchamber.mk
17/10/2025
This Sunday, the country will hold its eighth consecutive local elections since independence, in which voters will once again review the performance and renew (or withdraw) the mandate of mayors and municipal council members for the next four years. Once again, I must emphasize the business community’s wish—that the elections be conducted swiftly, efficiently, and transparently. Any incidents would only set us back, something we can least afford at this stage.
As always, the Economic Chamber is using this period to “put its own house in order.” This time, we have decided to carry out a serious review and focus on three key areas that will guide our priorities going forward:
1. The European Union Growth Plan – to be thoroughly examined, as we reaffirm that there is no alternative to the EU path, while also presenting our well-founded remarks. Of particular note here is the EU’s latest decision to introduce quotas in the metallurgy sector, which we are monitoring closely.
2. The Development Strategy 2024–2028, prepared by the Government with the support of the UNDP, which will serve as a key document for the country’s further development.
3. The issue of state subsidies, accompanied by a comprehensive international analysis.
Meanwhile, we continue with intensive activities related to reforms in education, exports, and regional cooperation.
In the coming period, several bilateral and multilateral visits are expected, along with the continuation of major projects, including the Business Club podcast, produced in cooperation with Third Ear, as well as several new project applications.
The second season of the Business Club podcast has already begun, featuring newly elected members of the Chamber’s governing bodies — Mihajlo Borozanov (Makpetrol AD Skopje), Kastriot Redjepi (VV Tikveš AD Kavadarci), Aleksandar Manev (Non-life Insurance Company AD Skopje), Marta Naumovska-Grnarova (Zavar Company DOOEL Skopje), Nikica Mojsoska-Blazhevski (Macedonia 2025 Skopje), and Toni Jankovski (FD Diners Club International MAK Skopje). They will be joined by regional business leaders such as Dragan Bokan (Voli Trade), Emil Tedeschi (Atlantic Group), Štefan Pavlinjek (Roto, Slovenia), Aleksandar Kostić (MK Group), Miodrag Vlaović, and others — including figures who have not given a public interview in the last ten years.
All in all, we expect an exciting new season, which under the extended format Business Club Plus will also host notable guests such as Milo Đukanović, Miodrag Mišković, Stjepan Mesić, and others.
As for project-related activities, they continue, though at a slightly reduced pace for objective reasons.
In the meantime, we welcomed Renato Garo, Google’s CTO, and Keith Carswell, Director for Economic Innovation and Development for the City of Miami (USA). The Chamber’s Management Board also held a working meeting with the newly established Agency for Innovation, Scientific and Technological Development, and Entrepreneurship (INOVA), as well as a meeting with the Public Revenue Office to discuss cooperation in implementing the e-invoicing system.
Finally, I must note that resolving internal weaknesses, which are a significant indicator of the Chamber’s overall functioning, will remain a top priority. Those who believe that their shortcomings or mistakes have been forgotten should rest assured: accountability will come sooner or later, because unprofessional conduct cannot be tolerated. The same applies to freelance project engagements, which, when misused, are among the strongest indicators of fund abuse within EU-funded programs.