More than 200 domestic and foreign business leaders, exporters, investors and top state and diplomatic representatives opened yesterday in Skopje an essential dialogue on the future of Macedonia’s economy and its strong integration into global supply chains.
This successfully wrapped up the first edition of RHGlobal Trade & Growth Forum 2026), organised by the Swiss-Macedonian Economic Oda (SwisCham North Macedonia) in a strategic partnership with the global leader of Mediterranean Shipping Company ( MSC). The forum was implemented with the support of Switzerland, through the Swiss Development and Co-operation Agency ( SDC) and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs ( SECO, as well as my software, SIPPO and SwissEP.
Under the motto Local Force. Global influence, the forum officially opened with messages about the importance of international partnerships and human potential.
MSC North Macedonia General Director and SwissCham North Macedonia Vice President Sanja Radovanovic in her opening address stressed the importance of courage for Macedonia’s companies to enter foreign markets.
This motto also reflects our ambition to turn our potential into global success. Macedonia is a small country with considerable potential. We have a quality offer, an entrepreneurial spirit and a strategic position in important European transportation corridors. I deeply believe that our greatest potential is people, their ideas, and their courage to create values beyond our borders. Let us not wait for the world to reveal our possibilities, but let us be the ones to show them, Radovanovic stressed.
Swiss Mayor Sonja Stefanovska stressed that linking Macedonia’s business sector with Swiss experiences is the key to building a flexible economy.
Northern Macedonia has talented people, ambitious companies and considerable potential. Switzerland is an inspiring example of how a relatively small country can build global competition through innovation, security, strong institutions and a commitment to quality. I sincerely hope that these discussions will inspire new ideas, stronger partnerships and concrete steps towards a more connected and competitive economy, Stefanovska said.
A special diplomatic burden was given to the forum by Ambassador Switzerland’s speech in northern Macedonia, U.S.T. Christoph Somemmer, to whom Oda handed a special plaque in appreciation for her faith and continued cooperation.
For countries like ours, trade is not just a sector among many, it is a major driver of growth. In today’s world, competitiveness increasingly depends on relationships. Switzerland remains committed to deepening its economic partnership with northern Macedonia. With the added value we can offer, we will continue to support initiatives that strengthen competitiveness, promote innovation and expand market opportunities, Ambassador Somemer said.
Strategic dialogue, expertise and innovation in focus of programme
The labour programme provided a thorough analysis of the challenges and opportunities for export-oriented companies. At his main presentation, Fabrizio Farinelli, director of Regional Agencies in the MSC in Geneva, stressed the link of Northern Macedonia to the world. His talk was accompanied by a video presenting the philosophy of MSC, its family values, and its commitment to people as the foundation of company operations.
That physical connection is the basis for international success was confirmed even during the direct dialogue titled “Infrastructural for Growth,” in which Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski participated. Referring to the competitiveness and administrative challenges facing Macedonian carriers, the minister welcomed Switzerland’s productivity in resolving the visa issue.
Switzerland was the first one I’m grateful for. She started to issue such visas for drivers and I hope this will be an example that other Schengen area member states will follow, Nikoloski stressed, adding that there are exactly such concrete steps that are needed to facilitate exports and create conditions for more efficient international business co-operation.
This theme naturally followed in the central panel ʹStrategic Trade Commanders and the Future of Logistics. Leading business leaders Stvica Carpic, Regional Director for Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Marija Dukovska Pavlovska, General Director and Executive Member of the Maxtil Directors’ Board of Directors, Biljana Deskoska, Director for Northern Macedonia and Alliance One Macedonia’s position on world markets.
Challenges in one of the most sensitive sectors, the food industry, were addressed by Swiss expert Jonas Spahn, Director General of Global Food Affairs. He explained through concrete examples of how domestic producers can meet rigorous requirements for deployment to the European market.
The second part of the day was dedicated to expanding export through the strategic panel titled Export Concurability: From the site to Globale ‘%s’, moderated by Goran Damovski, the leader of the Mine Programme Team in Northern Macedonia. On the panel, Christophe Gutter, British entrepreneur and co-founder of Quendoo, Nedzat Kurt, Executive Director of TAV Macedonia, and Ljupco Veleski, director of the Vitaminka International Sales, shared their practical experiences on the necessary steps to transform local businesses into strong international players.
The programme continued with an exclusive presentation offered by the PWorld, with Lars Silberbauer, a global expert on the professionally experienced digital transformation of companies and organisations such as LEGO, Olympics and Paramount. It addressed ways in which brands can build and strengthen their competitiveness in the modern digital environment.
The forum ended with a business networking event offered by Tikvesh, which allowed participants to create new contacts and open up opportunities for future co-operation.
The implementation of the event was also supported by the Rontis corporate partners Ladna, Delight, PWorld and MySPS, as well as by media partners who contributed to information about the forum that reached the general public.
With the first edition of the Global Trade and Growth Forum, Skopje won a new platform for linking domestic business to international markets and for exchanging experiences, ideas and opportunities for boosting the economy.
