Skopje, 17 March 2023 (MIA) – Around 9,5 thousand young people leave North Macedonia yearly, but if their quality is appreciated and they’re given an equal chance, with no connections or privileges, they can find their place here. The country is creating better conditions by the day to let young people integrate into the system and into the society that’s moving forward, evidenced by the EU negotiations, according to the participants at the event held on Friday titled “Returning and retaining the local young highly educated staff from the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of North Macedonia, and HOW” held at the Chamber of Commerce.

The Government representatives say that the youth in this country, and the country in return should secure a European perspective and future for them. The business sector reiterates that, in conditions of sharper competition, it recognizes quality, educated staff, but the state organs and institutions must do the same.

“Brain drain happens everywhere, but the main message the young people should know is that they’ll find the EU in Macedonia. It’s here, in Macedonia, in Skopje, in every city and every part of our country. We are already working on some aspects with concrete measures in regards to the student standard, job opportunities and supporting young entrepreneurial initiatives for a scientific perspective. Despite all of these things, there will always be young people who will find better opportunities in other countries, but our task is to give the youth the chance to see a European perspective here,” said Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi.

He added that the youth is the capital and investment in them is key to the development of a society and the economy of a country, and that the young people should be creative and take responsibility to create their future.

“The challenges ahead are keeping the capital in our country, through investments in education, and having the students who studied abroad come back. We are creating new opportunities through the Employment Agency and we have other measures, like supporting the projects by young creative entrepreneurs brought to the Fund for Innovations and Technological Development. I’d like to send a message to the youth to consider their homeland a future member state of the EU, because the processes have started,” Besimi pointed out.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski talked about some of the measures and steps taken to support the youth.

“The youth are exempt from paying a lease on agricultural land in the first three years. We’ve increased grants by 100%. We’ve enabled a EUR 20 thousand for all young farmers over the past couple of years. As a Ministry, we hire volunteers, interns and young people if they pass these successful processes which proves that yes, you can succeed without connections and privilege. Fulfilling the country’s strategic goals is the way to motivate the youth. We talked about the EU for 30 years and did very little about it in that time, but now, we are negotiating with the EU, opening European funds and creating better living conditions for the youth,” Nikolovski said, adding that the highest scholarships are available for the students attending the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Faculty of Forest Sciences, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy gave up funds of Mden 18000 and transferred it to the Ministry of Education and Science so that these students can get the highest scholarship available for nine months of the year, which is a strong incentive and clear message that we are creating better and better conditions for the youth and students to stay and integrate in this system, evidenced by the negotiations with the EU, a key strategic goal of the country,” the Minister said.

Acting Ambassador of Slovenia Tatjana Kovacic said that there are 1443 students from North Macedonia in Slovenia in the current school year.

“Young educated staff is a major investment in the future, because their knowledge and experience can contribute to a faster development of the country and its EU integration. These students can also be a link between the two countries because they secure the retention and strengthening of the high level of good relations and intensive cooperation via pathways between state, scholarly, economic and non-governmental institutions and enterprises from both countries in order to improve the perspectives of all educational, creative and active representatives of the young generation of Macedonia that would get hired by local enterprises, institutions and organizations after graduating in Slovenia, which would contribute towards the economy working successfully, the development of the country and the overall improvement of many areas of life and work in the country and a faster integration into the EU,” Kovacic said.

Elena Milevska Shtrbevska of the Chamber of Commerce emphasized on the focus they have as representatives of the business community to always realize activities to keep young staff in the country.

“Numerous measures and activities, such as today’s event, contribute to this. We will discuss this topic today and determine what’s missing, the advantages, and all relevant aspects in order to further implement a policy significant to keep the youth here. We appeal to the state organs and institutions to invest in scientific research institutes, laboratories and other appropriate activities that will support the business community and have the ability to absorb this staff,” she said. dk/nn/

Photo: MIA