As in previous years, this year, in celebration of the anniversary of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, the 2023 Chamber Awards were presented as an incentive for greater and bolder future endeavors of companies and contributions to the overall economic progress in our country.

In the category Award for Long-standing Chamber Activity, two long-standing members, collaborators, and friends of the Chamber were awarded.

Mr. Ilija Gechev, General Director of IGM Trade, AD Kavadarci, has been actively involved in the work of the Chamber for over three decades, participating in various organizational forms and managing bodies of the Chamber. From 2008 to June 2021, Mr. Gechev served as Vice President of the Chamber, and since June 2021, he has been Deputy President and a member of the Chamber’s Club 100.

Mr. Petar Spaseski, owner and manager of ASP-PAK, Ohrid, has been actively involved in the Chamber's activities for several decades, and today he is a member of the Assembly of the Economic Chamber. As the owner of a firm with long-standing experience in organizing and managing the operation of trade companies, he has been actively involved in activities aimed at promoting a market economy, entrepreneurship, and competitiveness in business.

The Award for Introducing Advanced Technologies, Digitalization, and the Green Agenda this year went to our long-time member – EVN Macedonia. The company continuously works on the digitalization of its processes to expedite procedures and ensure functionality within the group. In 2023, EVN Macedonia was at the top of the list of Macedonian companies that invested the most in the procurement of new equipment and facilities, contributing to the improvement of its services and bringing them closer to citizens and companies.

The Chamber's Award for Building Partnerships, Strengthening Ties, and Joint Actions in Building a Prosperous Macedonian Economy this year was presented to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Prof. Dr. Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recognized the efforts and initiatives of the Economic Chamber for regional cooperation, from which the three-year Private Sector Regional Integration Support Activity (PSRISA) emerged. The activity is being implemented by the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia in direct partnership with USAID until June 2025. The goal of the activity is to strengthen the capacities of Macedonian companies for more successful regional cooperation and to bring them together in new partnerships. The activity resulted in new tools and services that provide direct support to increase the export competitiveness of domestic companies. The second significant activity is a five-year project Citizens Against Corruption, supported by USAID, in which the Economic Chamber participates as representative of the private business sector. Through the project, with numerous activities aimed against corruption, USAID and the Economic Chamber contribute to the improvement of the economic environment in the country. The fight against corruption is part of the broader engagement of the Economic Chamber to combat the gray economy and uphold the rule of law, which is a prerequisite for increased investments and economic growth.

The Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, through the Declaration on Social Consensus, Economic Reforms, Policies, and Measures, adopted on 14 July 2022, paved the way for building an agreement on economic growth with clear priorities, around which all stakeholders in the economy and society should unite.

One of the first supporters of the Declaration is Prof. Dr. Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia. He recognized the role of the Economic Chamber as a unifying factor for all stakeholders in the country, aiming to achieve higher growth rates for the Macedonian economy in the next 10 years and to focus on our key priorities as the main pillars for building a new economic development model. Through a series of constructive mutual discussions, most of these priorities have been included in the new Government's work program, and we have jointly established measures in the interest of companies. Implementation is what follows, but we strongly believe that with the expertise, knowledge, experience, ambition, and energy we have, we will continue in partnership and jointly take part in building a better future for our country.