Shtip, 16 July 2025 (MIA) - When we said that real GDP in the first quarter grew by 3.2 percent compared to the same period last year, and this is the fourth highest in Europe, immediately behind Ireland, Denmark and Poland, many laughed at us. But now I can say that we will have an even better result in the second quarter. Based on the indicators, it will be between 4 and 6 percent, which is a giant step, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Wednesday.

“In May we recorded a historic growth of industrial production by 9.4 percent, we have higher exports of agricultural products by 57 percent in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year, as well as 22 percent more tourists in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of last year,” Mickoski said in his address at a cornerstone laying ceremony for a wind park in Shtip.  

Mickoski noted the country cannot have a strong economy if it doesn’t restore the trust of investors. “And this trust can be restored in two ways: through discipline and honesty in our work, and through the fight against crime and corruption, and the rule of law”.  

“We are firmly committed to the economy because we firmly believe we have enormous potential that can lead us forward with giant steps, and this is what we are doing and this is what the initial indicators for this year are showing, unlike the regression in the past seven years. In the first quarter, the first five months, the first half of the year, we are moving forward with giant steps,” Mickoski stressed.