Shtip, 8 April 2024 (MIA) - Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska awarded on Monday a certificate to the Shtip-based Aktiva company, which has been eligible since February to participate in NATO tenders and gets access to the NATO market. She pointed out that so far, 44 companies in the country have gained access to the NATO market.

"I am particularly pleased and amazed by what I saw today in the production facilities of this company. I am honored that as of February 28 this company has been eligible to participate in the NATO market," said Petrovska. 

Petrovska pointed out that at the beginning of March, she held a successful meeting with representatives of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and with Macedonian companies, whereat opportunities were presented in terms of Macedonian companies participating in procurement both in the NATO Agency and on the NATO market.

"It is a very large market which is an excellent chance to help and contribute to the development of the Macedonian economy. The positive example of this company should be an example to other companies in the Republic of North to contact the Ministry of Defence for their registration on the NATO market, and I wish the company to participate in the NATO market in the coming period and soon share the news of a positively concluded agreement in the Alliance," Petrovska said. 

Asked what the benefits are for Macedonian companies that have access to the NATO market, Petrovska said the first step that the companies have taken has already been completed, which is the registration process, i.e. verification by the Ministry of Defence that they have the capabilities and fulfill the conditions to perform on the NATO market.

"The second opportunity that the Ministry of Defence will offer in the coming period to further help is by sending representatives to the NATO Procurement Agency to enable access to the NATO market. The NATO market is very large, more than EUR 5 billion annually, an opportunity in each of the branches that we have in the companies in North Macedonia to register and participate. We are aware that that NATO market is challenging, it requires the fulfillment of high standards and criteria, but of course that is why the state, the Government, the Ministry are here to adequately support that process," Petrovska noted. 

During Monday's visit to the Aktiva company, Minister Petrovska said the list of Macedonian companies can expand, which depends on them. Also, companies from different sectors have certificates and access to the NATO market.

"The sectors include construction, food, some of them also offer catering services in terms of organization and events. We have all kinds of companies, transport, companies dealing in the trade of oil and oil derivatives, the spectrum of companies is wide. Everything that covers the needs of the Alliance," said Petrovska.  

Owner of the Aktiva company, Ile Nikolov, said the certificate also opens up a new vision in their production program.

"We believe that in addition to the serious partners that we have from Europe and beyond, that this part, this segment that we have now received the certificate for, so that we can participate in the tenders, will be another opportunity to prove ourselves on this market regarding which the Minister said is quite serious, quite large, and I hope that with our production program we will be able to participate in part of the needs for the NATO industry," said Nikolov. 

He noted that the Aktiva company is now ready to work both with new partners from the NATO market and the current serious partners from the West, including Van Hool, Pass Global.

The company produces parts for the automotive industry, as well as transport carts for the world's major airports. They have a wide range of production, which has been modernized, with robotic machines, and, as Nikolov said, he hopes that after a year or two they will be able to show the first products which they will deliver to the market for the needs of NATO.

Photo: MIA