BUSINESS FORUM NORTH MACEDONIA – KAZAKHSTAN: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION AND INVESTMENT

Invest North Macedonia actively participated in the North Macedonia – Kazakhstan Business Forum held in Skopje, bringing together representatives from institutions and business communities of North Macedonia and Kazakhstan. The event served as an important platform for enhancing economic cooperation and opening new perspectives for investment and trade.

The forum was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, Zoran Dimitrovski, and the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliyev. In their remarks, they emphasized the importance of deepening economic relations, increasing trade exchange, and creating stable conditions for long-term cooperation.

As part of the forum, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between Invest North Macedonia and QazTrade by the Director, Refik Džemaili. This document establishes a solid institutional framework for promoting investments and exports through the exchange of economic information, best practices, and joint activities aimed at facilitating companies’ access to new markets.

Additionally, an Agreement for the establishment of a Business Council was signed between the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia and the International Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan. This initiative opens new channels for direct communication between companies and creates conditions for developing long-term and sustainable business partnerships.

During the forum, State Advisor Igor Velevski presented the investment and export potential of North Macedonia, highlighting key competitive advantages such as a favorable business climate, strategic geographic location, access to regional and international markets, as well as a comprehensive package of measures and support for foreign investors.

The forum also featured a dynamic segment of bilateral business meetings, where companies from North Macedonia and Kazakhstan had the opportunity to establish direct contacts and explore concrete cooperation opportunities. Particular interest was shown in sectors such as industry, agribusiness, energy, and infrastructure, indicating a broad potential for joint investments.

This business forum once again confirmed the strong potential for deepening economic relations between North Macedonia and Kazakhstan, laying the groundwork for future concrete projects and investment initiatives.Invest North Macedonia remains committed to attracting new investments, supporting export-oriented companies, and creating conditions for sustainable economic growth and development.

BUILDING BRIDGES FOR MAJOR INVESTMENTS: Budapest at the Center of Business Activity

Budapest positioned itself as a key hub for economic cooperation between North Macedonia and Hungary, hosting one of the most significant bilateral events of the year – Hungary–North Macedonia Business Cooperation Day. The event brought together representatives from government institutions, the business community, and international investors, all focused on strengthening economic ties and unlocking new opportunities for collaboration.

The event sent a strong and clear message to the international investment community: North Macedonia is a stable, predictable, and competitive economy that is actively improving its business climate and attracting foreign direct investment. In an increasingly competitive global environment for capital, such high-level engagements are essential for positioning the country as a reliable and attractive investment destination.

The Director of the Agency, Refik Xhemaili, participated as part of the government delegation led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. Through a series of meetings and presentations, the country’s potential across several sectors was highlighted, with particular emphasis on industrial production, export-oriented industries, and opportunities within the technological industrial development zones.

During the official program, concrete investment opportunities and projects were presented, along with modern investor-support tools, including the SDG Investment Map. This approach enables more efficient allocation of capital towards sustainable and long-term viable investments aligned with global development priorities. Additionally, North Macedonia’s competitive advantages were emphasized, including its strategic geographic location, access to regional markets, skilled workforce, and investor-friendly policies.

A particularly impactful component of the event was the dynamic B2B segment, which facilitated direct engagement between companies. More than 35 Macedonian companies held meetings with Hungarian counterparts, exploring concrete opportunities for cooperation, joint investments, and business expansion. These interactions represent a crucial step toward translating dialogue into tangible economic outcomes and long-term partnerships.

The event in Budapest goes beyond a formal or diplomatic gathering—it serves as a practical platform for generating real economic results. Through such initiatives, investment flows are encouraged, trade is strengthened, and new avenues for private sector development are created.

North Macedonia continues to move forward with confidence, strengthening its position as an attractive investment destination and a reliable partner for the global business community, with a clear vision for sustainable economic growth and long-term development.

Macedonian–Slovak Business Forum: Strategic Partnership for Investment and Trade

With a clear goal of strengthening economic cooperation between North Macedonia and Slovakia, the Macedonian–Slovak Business Forum was held today in Skopje, co-organized by the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia. The event brought together over 50 companies from both countries, along with representatives of key institutions and business associations.

A key outcome of the Forum was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion (Invest North Macedonia) and the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), signed by the Directors Refik Xhemaili and Egon Zorád. This establishes a stronger institutional framework for joint promotion, information exchange, and support to investors and export-oriented companies.

The Forum provided a direct platform for connecting the business communities through B2B and B2G meetings, networking and matchmaking, initiating concrete discussions on investments, joint projects, and export partnerships. The presentations on investment opportunities and export potential of North Macedonia, with a focus on high value-added sectors, reaffirmed the country’s position as a competitive and stable investment destination in the region.

The Forum was officially opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of North Macedonia, Timcho Mucunski, and the Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Ladislav Kamenický, sending a strong message of political support and strategic commitment to deepening bilateral economic relations.

The Agency remains firmly committed to attracting quality foreign investments, promoting exports, and strengthening the competitiveness of the Macedonian economy, through active support to companies in the realization of concrete projects and sustainable partnerships.

Strengthening Strategic Investment Ties: Successful Outreach Campaign in Vienna

From 24 to 28 November, Invest North Macedonia successfully conducted a targeted investment outreach campaign in Vienna, Austria, with the support of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The mission aimed to strengthen economic cooperation with Austria and promote North Macedonia’s investment potential among key institutional and business stakeholders.

Throughout the week, the Invest North Macedonia team held a series of high-level institutional meetings and targeted business discussions, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation, exchanging best practices, and facilitating new investment opportunities.

Key Institutional Meetings

• ABA – INVEST in AUSTRIA
  Discussions focused on current Austrian investment trends, the exchange of best practices in investment promotion, and opportunities for future joint promotional activities targeting Austrian investors interested in the Western Balkans.

• Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)
  Meetings explored concrete mechanisms to strengthen bilateral business cooperation, improve information flow, and facilitate direct access for Austrian companies to investment opportunities in North Macedonia, particularly in priority sectors.

• Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia in Vienna
  Coordination meetings addressed upcoming economic diplomacy and investment-promotion activities, as well as strengthening governmental support for investors. The Embassy will play a key role in aligning future initiatives and engaging Austrian institutions in a more strategic and structured manner.

• Macedonian–Austrian Business Club
  The Club provided valuable insights into Austrian investor interests, ongoing bilateral projects, and sector-specific opportunities. The role of the Macedonian community and diaspora in Vienna was highlighted as an important bridge for promoting economic ties and supporting business cooperation.Business Meetings and Investment Promotion

In parallel, Invest North Macedonia held targeted business meetings with Austrian companies operating in the agribusiness, food processing, and metallurgy sectors. During these meetings, the team presented North Macedonia’s competitive advantages, including its strategic location, skilled workforce, access to regional and EU markets, and tailored government support measures. Discussions focused on identifying concrete investment opportunities and next steps for potential project development.

The outreach campaign reaffirmed Austria’s strong interest in the region and further positioned North Macedonia as a reliable and competitive investment destination, while laying the groundwork for continued engagement and future investment projects.

Invest North Macedonia at Halal Expo Sarajevo 2025

The international Halal Expo Sarajevo 2025 officially opened yesterday and will last for three days, bringing together over 60 exhibitors from more than 20 countries! The event aims to boost innovation, investment, and business cooperation in the halal economy and real estate sectors.

Our team from Invest North Macedonia, led by Director Mr. Refik Xhemaili, is representing our country with a national booth, promoting investment opportunities and export potential.

Over the past two days, we held productive meetings with:

–  Representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs – expressing interest in energy sector collaboration,

–  Potential investors and government agencies from several countries,

–  Ms. Manal Almadani, a specialist from Saudi Arabia for halal certification – keen to connect with Macedonian companies,

– The Investment Agency of Montenegro – with a proposal to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation,

–  Mr. Abdullah AlSheki, tourism expert – who showed strong interest in organizing visits to Macedonia for tourists from Qatar.