Skopje, 28 May 2025 (MIA) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are supporting North Macedonia’s private sector by identifying key priority measures and policy areas that should enhance its competitiveness.

These efforts are supported through the Competitiveness Policy Priorities for Western Balkans programme, funded by the EU through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) and developed by the EBRD in cooperation with Center for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES) and its local partners, the EBRD said in a press release.

The programme aims to identify and implement a set of policy measures to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector in the Western Balkans, including in North Macedonia. 

At an event held in Skopje, programme stakeholders gathered for a discussion on identified policy priorities including improving inspection services to tackle informal economy, streamlining support and financing for businesses, strengthening research and digital infrastructure, and addressing labour market challenges through targeted reforms and digital solutions, reads the press release.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration across sectors, institutions, and borders, Fatih Turkmenoglu, EBRD Head of North Macedonia, said: “This collaborative effort, through the Competitiveness Policy Priorities for North Macedonia and the broader regional initiative, is essential for creating a sustainable business environment that promotes innovation, supports digitalisation, and enhances competitiveness. By aligning our priorities and moving from analysis to action, we can lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient future for our region’s economy."

As a next step, respective institutions will receive technical assistance, also funded by the EU, to help them with the implementation of identified and agreed policy measures necessary to enable MSMEs to become more competitive within the region and internationally, as well as to enable institutions with SME mandate to better serve them.

The attendants representing government institutions highlighted the importance of the roundtable and findings of the report, being aligned with recent developments in the country, such as the new Strategy for Smart Specialisation and the new Strategy for SMEs (currently on the ENER platform for public consultations) and their action plans. They expressed their readiness to work together on the successful implementation of the chosen priorities.

The EBRD is the leading institutional investor in North Macedonia and has invested more than €2.9 billion in 198 projects.

Photo: EBRD