As part of the ongoing Pelagonija–Prespa Forum initiative, first launched last year, and in line with the first regional strategy for transitioning the Pelagonija Planning Region toward a green economy, the second Pelagonija–Prespa Forum was held in Bitola on 30 October 2024. The event was organized by the regional chambers based in Bitola and Prilep and aimed to establish sustainable development for the Alliance for Natural, Tasty, and Healthy Food from the Pelagonija and Prespa geographical region.

This initiative seeks to unite key regional and national stakeholders to collectively work on the production, processing, and delivery of branded food with geographical origins from the Pelagonija–Prespa region, a leading agricultural area in the country.

In the first phase of the project, the target group will include companies and individual producers with established practices in this field. The second phase will immediately follow, focusing on supplier companies associated with pioneering producers identified through supply chain mapping. A third group of follower companies will be introduced later, based on demonstrated interest in participating.

The forum was opened and led by Mirko Velkovski, President of the Regional Chamber based in Bitola. In his address, he highlighted that the Pelagonija Region is a major driver of the Macedonian economy, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing resources in the agricultural and food sectors for further regional and national development.

Key supporters, including Verche Micevska, National Coordinator for Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy, and Marjan Risteski, Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor, expressed their support. They noted that Pelagonija and Prespa are renowned as geographical brands in Macedonia and beyond, suggesting that associating products from this region with these names would enhance their promotion in both domestic and international markets.

Nikola Marinoski, President of the Regional Chamber based in Prilep, also expressed satisfaction that the Forum initiative continues and pledged ongoing support for activities contributing to the economic growth of the Pelagonija Region.

The mayors of Prilep, Krivogashtani, and Novaci, along with the Deputy Mayor of Bitola, were in attendance. Around a hundred business representatives, academics from the St. Kliment Ohridski University (UKLO) and its relevant faculties, also participated.

Key speakers outlined the principles guiding this initiative:

1. Prof. Dr. Cvetko Smilevski from Business Academy Smilevski (BAS) Bitola spoke on the organizational establishment of the Alliance, consisting of key participants in producing, processing, and delivering geographically branded food from Pelagonija–Prespa.
2. Prof. Dr. Gordana Dimitrovska from the Biotechnical Faculty at UKLO in Bitola addressed the protection of traditional agricultural and food products, as well as current national legislation supporting these products.
3. Biljana Petrovikj, M.Sc., from Modern Agriculture, discussed cooperation within the agricultural sector and consolidation of agricultural production.
4. Prof. Dr. Borche Angelkov from the Macedonian Science Society in Bitola focused on food safety and the application of food safety standards.
5. Klaudija Lutovska, IPARD consultant, spoke on the readiness of local companies to participate in financial support programs for the food and agriculture sectors.

As a conclusion, members were nominated for the Governing Council and development team, representing all participating organizations: the regional chambers from Bitola and Prilep, Agency for the Promotion of Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy, BAS, UKLO, and industry representatives.

Additionally, around ten local companies showcased their products with special presentations at the event.