A two-day workshop titled “Financial Management, Advisory Services and New Technologies for Supporting SME Growth in the Western Balkans – Opportunities for Cooperation between Professional Accountancy Organizations and Chambers of Commerce” was held in Vienna, bringing together representatives of chambers of commerce, professional accountancy organizations, technology experts, and small and medium-sized enterprises from across the region.

The workshop was organized under the Western Balkans Six Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), with support from EU-funded programs, including the REPARIS for SMEs program managed by the World Bank Centre for Financial Reporting Reform (CFRR).

The event was dedicated to strengthening cooperation between professional accountancy organizations and chambers of commerce in order to provide better support to small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transformation processes.

During the two-day workshop, participants discussed the impact of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence on the accounting profession and business operations. It was emphasized that AI represents a significant structural change, transforming the role of accountants from traditional transaction processing to strategic advisory services, analytical interpretation, and ethical data governance.

The workshop was attended by Gabriela Kulebanova, President of the SME Centre at the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, who, together with representatives of the WB6 CIF and chambers of commerce from the Western Balkans, actively contributed to discussions related to digital transformation, AI application, and strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.

A particular value of the workshop was its practical approach, which enabled the exchange of experiences and knowledge, while also identifying concrete opportunities for enhancing cooperation among chambers of commerce, the accounting profession, international financial institutions, and the private sector.

The continuous support provided by the World Bank Group to small and medium-sized enterprises—through improving access to finance, encouraging investment, strengthening corporate governance, and accelerating digital transformation—represents an important driver of sustainable economic development and growth across the region.