More than sixty companies from North Macedonia and Greece took part in the Business Forum held today at the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Skopje.

The event aimed to deepen economic relations between the two countries and open new opportunities for business cooperation and investment partnerships among companies.

The Forum gathered representatives of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, the Greek Exporters Association, Enterprise Greece, as well as members of the business community from both countries. Special emphasis was placed on direct B2B meetings, through which Macedonian and Greek companies discussed concrete opportunities for cooperation and the development of long-term partnerships. The Forum brought together companies from eight different sectors: food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, information technology and communications, construction and building materials, medical equipment, environmental services and energy, metallurgy, transport, and logistics.

In his address, Branko Azeski, President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, stressed that trade has been on an upward trajectory since the signing of the Prespa Agreement.

“Greece is a significant trading partner. With an export value of over 280 million dollars in 2024, it ranks among the top five export destinations for North Macedonia. Last year, total trade reached 1.35 billion dollars, with exports amounting to 284.3 million dollars and imports totaling 1.06 billion dollars. This clearly shows that, since the signing of the Prespa Agreement, our trade relations have been moving upward, and we can say we are satisfied with this process. Over the entire period, Macedonian exports have recorded continuous growth. In the past five years, despite all fluctuations, the average annual growth rate of exports to Greece has been 7.5%. Macedonian exports to Greece are primarily based on the energy sector, mineral raw materials, metallurgy and metal processing, textiles and apparel, agricultural products, food and beverages. Access to Greek ports for Macedonian exporters represents the main gateway for internationalization and access to global markets. There is no alternative to this. I would particularly like to highlight the role of the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic, which serves as an economic partner—something that is especially important for us. Politics belongs to politicians; the economy belongs to businesspeople,” said Azeski.

The Greek Ambassador to North Macedonia, H.E. Sofia Philippidou, also expressed strong support for such initiatives, noting that the forum is a clear example of how two neighboring countries can deepen their economic ties to the benefit of citizens and the business community.

“Today’s business forum is an excellent example of how two neighboring countries, which share so much in common, can develop and strengthen economic ties to the benefit of both economies. The strong attendance—over 60 companies gathered in this hall—is truly encouraging. Moreover, the fact that more than 200 business meetings have been scheduled today across key economic sectors shows a clear interest in moving from discussion to concrete action. These meetings will take place among businesses in sectors such as construction and construction materials, energy, the pharmaceutical industry, food, and information technology. I am confident that your discussions and meetings will be productive and will yield tangible results,” Ambassador Philippidou stated.

Representatives of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, and the Greek Exporters Association also addressed the attending business community, presenting the latest opportunities for investment, exports, and joint business initiatives between companies from the two countries.