Skopje, 31 January 2023 (MIA) – Minister without portfolio in charge of diaspora, Xhemail Chupi, announced the mapping of the Macedonian academic and economic diaspora. The goal is to identify the business community living abroad which consists of important entrepreneurs, future possible investors in their native country, said the Minister on Tuesday.

“The project of opening diaspora offices in 23 municipalities has started. The offices will act as an intermediary and provide members of the diaspora with additional information, guidance and benefits from the Government,” Chupi told the Government’s “A Year of New Opportunities” conference.

Migration is the deepest wound of our society, he added, as a result of which we are facing brain drain or intellectual migration and aging of the existing academic and professional pool.

“The best way to deal with these issues is joint, coordinated action. We wouldn’t be able to talk about regional and local development without systemic cooperation between the institutions, municipalities, international organizations, the non-governmental sector, diaspora associations, intellectuals and businessmen,” said the Minister, stressing the importance of the diaspora. ad/ik/