How can we build a sustainable, locally based economy that meets EU standards? How can we raise awareness among Macedonian consumers that by purchasing agricultural products and processed goods, we are in fact helping everyone — not only those who produce directly, and the processors involved in the sector, but above all supporting the domestic economy, whose positive effects return as financial inflows to the state budget?

To achieve this, vision is required, along with the development of a strategy — a document that will serve as a guideline for how activities will be implemented. A campaign is needed that will be recognized through a slogan and serve as motivation for buying Macedonian products.

For that purpose, the business community agrees that a campaign titled “Macedonian - The Best” should reflect the vision of a country that believes in its own potential. To be successful, the campaign — which has also attracted the interest of the Government — should be defined as a strategic step to support domestic agriculture, the agri-food industry, and local producers. It should not be merely a marketing initiative, but a long-term development policy, an investment aimed at strengthening the national economy by increasing domestic production and reducing dependence on imports.

And how should this be implemented? By encouraging consumers to choose domestic products, awareness will be created that every Macedonian product purchased is a small but essential investment in national development. This is economic patriotism in practice — an act of support for our producers, local economies, and the communities that live from the land and its fruits. It is a call to create a closed production cycle, from farm to fork, where added value remains in the country.

“Macedonian - The Best” is not only an economic measure, but also a social philosophy: to produce more, import less, protect nature, and build generations that believe in the value of Macedonian labor. It is a symbol of maturity and readiness to create our own sustainable economy based on knowledge, work, and trust in what is domestic.

The campaign, in which both business and the state invest directly and indirectly, has an impact on all parties involved:

For farmers, this initiative means greater predictability, secure market sales, and motivation to invest in quality and modern technologies. Instead of depending on import prices and intermediaries, they receive support to create competitive, high-quality products that meet domestic standards and tastes. Through this, a foundation is built for long-term sustainability, especially at a time when global markets are unstable and logistics are often disrupted.

For the food processing industry, “Macedonian – The Best” represents an incentive to increase capacities and diversify the product range. By using local raw materials, companies not only reduce dependence on imports, but also create greater value for the domestic market. In addition, space is opened for innovation, for the introduction of new products, and for increasing competitiveness at the regional level. In other words, an opportunity is created for diversification and expansion of the domestic assortment. By using domestic raw materials, not only is dependence on imports reduced, but transport routes and costs are shortened. Less import also means less transport, and thus fewer emissions of harmful gases. In this way, Macedonia, although a small country, makes its concrete contribution to reducing the global carbon footprint and protecting the environment.

The campaign also carries broader social significance. It builds economic patriotism, but without exclusivity. It calls for solidarity and conscious choice that strengthens economic self-reliance. When Macedonian citizens choose domestic products, they are not merely buying a product — they are investing in jobs, in the future of young people, and in the stability of local communities.

At the same time, this strategy also encourages social sustainability. By creating stable working conditions and decent incomes, agriculture becomes more attractive to younger generations. The campaign sends a message that agriculture is not the past, but the future, with potential for innovation, digitalization, and new green technologies. If we want young people to stay in the country and build their lives here, we must show them that domestic soil, too, can offer a future.