For years, the Chamber has continuously warned that a small country like ours, in order to survive, must achieve GDP growth of more than 5 percent and steadily increase exports. Today, we can note that GDP growth above 5 percent was recorded only in 2008, while exports today amount to EUR 7.64 billion.

For years, the facts have remained the same, unchanged:

·       Exports are concentrated in the manufacturing industry and account for more than 85 percent of total exports;

·       At present, our companies export only 370 products with a value exceeding one million dollars;

·       95 percent of Macedonian exports are sold in just 25 markets.

In other words, challenges abound.

In 2010, the Chamber proposed a completely new economic development model.

On the occasion of the centenary of the chamber system, in 2022, we unveiled the “Declaration of the Economic Chamber for Social Consensus and for Economic Reforms, Policies and Measures,” a new Framework Agreement for economic development. In the meantime, we restructured ourselves as an export-oriented chamber. More than 350 entities in the country signed the Declaration for Social Consensus—representing all stakeholders, current and future creators of economic policy—through which priority should be given to the economy over politics over the next ten years and the necessary turnaround should be made. The first to do so was the current Prime Minister and President of VMRO-DPMNE, Prof. Dr. Hristijan Mickoski. His Government now has a historic opportunity to change the course of affairs in a positive direction: to close the chapter of Macedonia’s transition and open the gates to the European Union. Many young people may leave, but they will return in greater numbers if we use this period to develop the economy. Such a policy will always be supported by the business community.

All other factors involved in building the state must rise to the level of these historic tasks. Increasing GDP and exports must be on the daily agenda, and institutions must operate at full capacity.