The Management Board of the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) held a session in Skopje, where priorities for 2025 were reviewed and established. The meeting's main topics revolved around the new Action Plan for the Common Regional Market and measures to enhance economic cooperation among Western Balkan countries.

Before the session, a press conference was held, featuring remarks from Lulzim Rafuna, President of the WB6 CIF and President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce; Branko Azeski, Deputy President of WB6 CIF and President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia; and Ahmet Egrlić, President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a WB6 CIF Management Board member.

During the press conference, it was highlighted that WB6 CIF activities will focus on implementing the Action Plan, which aims to improve the business environment, increase company competitiveness, and facilitate access to new markets.

Branko Azeski, President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, emphasized that the region must prepare for global economic changes.

"We seek stability and high accountability for our current situation. Europe is on the brink of an economic tightening due to long-term processes beyond our control. Businesses face uncertainty, and consequences are inevitable, especially considering the situation in Germany, our largest trading partner. We are doing everything to convince local and regional structures that Western Balkan economies must strengthen their cooperation because they are small. We need to unite and urge political leaders to boldly invest in initiatives that can drive progress," said Azeski.

Lulzim Rafuna, President of WB6 CIF, announced a new plan for 2025 aimed at eliminating administrative barriers, promoting the region as a business-friendly zone, and supporting companies to access new markets.

"In 2025, we are entering with a new plan. We will focus on removing all administrative barriers, promoting the Western Balkans as a business-friendly environment, providing support for our companies to enter the market, and identifying new markets outside the EU based on business demands," said Rafuna.

Ahmet Egrlić, President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina and WB6 CIF Management Board member, stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina supports Western Balkan integration.

"The economies of these countries should face no barriers. I want to highlight that most of Bosnia and Herzegovina's trade is oriented towards the EU, where over 71% of our exports go. Regarding the Western Balkans, our largest trade volume is with Serbia. The excellent cooperation with chambers from the Western Balkans should lead to better trade relations," Egrlić noted.