Skopje, 24 September 2022 (MIA) – A fair of civil society organizations (CSOs) and social enterprises, organized by the EU project “Support to Social Enterprises”, took place in downtown Skopje on Saturday, bringing together about 100 organizations that presented their products, including jewelry, furniture, apparel etc. Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi said social entrepreneurship aims to create social equality and togetherness, focusing on numerous social and environmental challenges. “We are creating a society of solidarity for all, a society that integrates, one that offers opportunities, cares and creates links. We opened the Center for Social Entrepreneurship a year ago, an institution that ensures systemic support for new and existing social enterprises, because they are crucial to managing local challenges such as poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic issues related to the integration of vulnerable groups,” said Deputy PM Bytyqi. Swiss Ambassador Veronique Hulmann said the civil society offers support, helps public institutions where needed. “Over the past decade, Switzerland has supported nearly 300 CSOs in North Macedonia, including human rights organizations, those providing services to vulnerable groups, environment protection, promotion of good governance, better transparency and accountability of institutions,” said Ambassador Hulmann and added that the role of civil society in turbulent times becomes increasingly important in assisting policymakers to find solutions to problems. EU Ambassador David Geer said social enterprises in the EU account for ten percent of all businesses, with 13 million people (six percent of EU workers) employed in such enterprises. “Social entrepreneurship is in its initial stages in North Macedonia, the foundation has been laid, the strategy has been adopted, the draft-law has been developed and now it is time to move forward in further development of social entrepreneurship,” noted Geer.