At one of the many meetings held at the Chamber, the leader of VMRO-DPMNE and current Prime Minister stated that, once in power, his government would be business-oriented and would ask the chambers of commerce to define the key priorities to be pursued jointly. It is clear to all of us that this cannot be implemented fully, as the Government has serious obligations not only toward businesses, but also toward citizens and the international community on issues that impact the business environment. That is why we are aware of the broader context and do not claim that our stance is the only correct one, but we support anything that is in the interest of the state. Nonetheless, let us once again reiterate the business community’s key priorities, which for our Chamber are as follows:

1.    Developing an education system aligned with business needs, direct export support through budget-backed instruments and measures, and strengthening regional cooperation as a foundational step toward accelerating EU integration processes.

2.    These priorities also include the Chamber’s strategic goals: combating corruption and the grey economy, expediting the construction of natural gas infrastructure, and regulating the relationship between the state and the business sector in a way that does not harm the private sector, but instead contributes to the common good.

 

Over the past year, progress has been made — communication and trust have been established — but as a business community, we would like to see major decisions related to economic prosperity made through consensus among all stakeholders. This includes, first and foremost, the opposition, businesses, participants in the tripartite dialogue, academia, civil society, and the media.

It is undeniable that the Government, as a key player in defining the new priorities, has placed strong emphasis on investment activity, and has evidently made efforts to create a solid framework. Additionally, it is actively working to increase domestic companies’ participation in international projects. According to information from our member companies, the usual concerns about public administration conduct persist, but there are no reports of pressure or threats that could undermine the achievement of set goals. At present, the greatest difficulties are being faced by companies in the textile sector, though in general, businesses across industries are still struggling to overcome long-standing challenges related to ongoing crises.

To actively participate in shaping common economic policy, the Chamber is gradually but steadily assembling a team that will aim to support both companies and the state in achieving the established objectives. Following the constitution of the Assembly and the Management Board, the Chamber will, in the coming days, appoint its Vice Presidents, thus completing its management structure. The list of Vice Presidents will be led by Aleksandar Gechev, M.Sc., of IGM Trade Kavadarci, one of our country’s largest exporters. Also included on the list will be: Sasho Naumoski, Anatol Kutrevski, Viktor Mizo, Zoran Milkovski, Sasho Samardjioski, Gligor Cvetanov, Irena Jakimovska, Dragana Chifliganec, and Marjan Bojadjiev.

P.S. With 103 years of experience and a solid human resource base, the Chamber is ready for the major challenges facing the private sector. Prime Minister Mickoski has our support to continue along the outlined path, so that our country may finally increase its GDP, grow corporate profits, and create new jobs. This is how we will stem the brain drain and set out on the right path forward.