Even after 10 years, the Economic Chamber remains committed to acting as a bridge between education and business. This commitment is evident in the activities we are undertaking these days to ensure a seamless connection for providing skilled labor to meet the needs of the economy, noted Branko Azeski, President of the Economic Chamber, during a press conference with Prof. Dr. Dejan Mirakovski, Rector of the Goce Delchev University in Shtip. The purpose of the press conference was to promote the project Circular and Green Economy Based on Science-Business Collaboration, which is part of the Ministry of Economy's program for collaborative projects in the implementation of smart specialization, digital, and green transformation of industry, for which UGD applied, with the Chamber as a partner in the project.

"As Chamber," Azeski stated, "we actively work on uniting and activating all stakeholders in the country, especially through more intensive collaboration with the academic community, to provide specific support for our companies in their efforts to introduce new technologies, innovations, and undergo green transition as a basis for greater competitiveness in the European market."

“Through this project, we will ensure that our companies utilize the laboratories and research infrastructure of the University in the area of circular and green economy, as well as use scientific and professional expertise in meeting international environmental protection standards and green transformation.”

“Simultaneously, through specific examples, we successfully illustrate the Chamber's capacity and dedication to being a true service provider for our companies and supporting the development of their businesses. In the past period, we have provided technical support for the financing of investment projects for several companies, worked with companies to increase their exports to new markets, and introduced new digital solutions in their operations. Now, we are starting to support companies in the introduction of the circular economy concept by creating new innovative products through the reuse of materials and implementing international environmental standards for environmental protection.”

"We at the Chamber are always visionaries and always anticipate future trends and processes in business, and that is why our goal in the coming period will certainly include issues related to the circular economy and green transition as important aspects of business," added the ECNM President.

“The goal of the project is to build a platform for long-term cooperation between science and business in the development and application of new scientifically-based concepts and solutions for circular and green economy within the Macedonian industry,” said Prof. Dr. Mirakovski, Rector of UGD Shtip.

As part of the project, there are plans to develop a digital platform based on two interconnected centers: a Circular Economy Business Center and a Research Center for Circular and Green Economy. "Our ultimate goal, as a scientific community together with businesses, is to contribute to building a better and higher-quality environment for all citizens in the country while simultaneously developing industry and protecting the environment. We can achieve this together and united, and this project between the Economic Chamber and the Goce Delchev University, supported by the state, is a concrete example of that," the Rector emphasized.