“To transition from mandatory to voluntary membership while retaining all 15,000 members is undeniable proof that these people, these business leaders, believe that the Chamber, with its new structure and renewed focus, can truly serve as the voice of business and an advocate for the interests of the private sector.” — said Gjorgji Petrushev, General Manager of Mlekara AD Bitola, and one of the key figures who, alongside Branko Azeski, initiated the Chamber's reform in 2005.

In the latest episode of the Business Club podcast with Branko Azeski, Petrushev discusses the transformation of the Chamber during one of the most significant crises in its organizational history, as well as the adoption of the new Law on Chambers of Commerce, which introduced a new system of Chamber organization—shifting membership from a mandatory to a voluntary basis. According to Petrushev, this transformation occurred at a time when privatization had already been completed, when successful companies had solidified their positions, and when small and medium-sized enterprises were emerging. This shift, he notes, meant that the Chamber was no longer just a place for major executives.

Petrushev emphasized that since the transformation in 2005, the Chamber has recorded positive results, continuous growth, and development.

“The Chamber has become a place where every company can come and find its interest, where its voice can be heard, and where the Chamber’s structures, bodies, and mechanisms ensure that voice reaches the right places. The Chamber is no longer an institution exclusively for large businesses, for the privileged few, or for a select group—it is now a Chamber where every entity, every NGO, and every project related to energy efficiency, productivity, and education can find its place.” — Gjorgji Petrushev.

Later in the podcast, Branko Azeski asked Petrushev whether the conditions are mature enough for young people who have left the country to return. Petrushev’s response was clear: conditions are not yet ripe for their return, and work needs to be done to ensure that once they return, they don’t leave again. In his opinion, we need to build a strong foundation so there is no reversible process. We must establish a quality education system where their children can receive proper schooling, a solid social system that guarantees the security of preschool-aged children, and an environment where corruption is no longer a topic of discussion—where it is simply a thing of the past.