Investments in sustainability are a major opportunity for greater competitiveness of the private sector

Sustainability is not a requirement, but rather a major opportunity for greater competitiveness of the private sector in North Macedonia. This was the conclusion of today’s Business Forum entitled “Turning Sustainability into Competitiveness: Building Resilient Businesses in an Uncertain World”. 

To promote sustainability as a source of greater competitiveness for the private sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, and the United Nations family in the country, in cooperation with other domestic and international partners, organized the Forum today.  

“Today’s forum is much more than just another conference dedicated to the economy. It is an opportunity to discuss how we envision the future of our country and what kind of economy we want to build in the years ahead,” stated Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia.  

Participants of the Forum emphasized that sustainability is not a destination but a transformative journey, where success depends on adaptability, innovation, and resilience rather than size. Companies that invest early in resource efficiency, innovation, responsible management, and workforce development are better positioned to manage risks and seize opportunities.  

“Sustainability is good for business development and growth. Investing in a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future is not only a shared responsibility—it is a competitive advantage that helps companies manage risk, adapt to change, and thrive amid uncertainty,” says Rita Columbia, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. “That is why the UN stands ready to partner with the private sector, offering the knowledge, partnerships, and practical tools to align business success with sustainable development.”  

Among many other issues, participants on the forum discussed about Sustainability / ESG in Practice, such as Innovation, Digitalization and Green Investments for Resilience, Sustainable Supply Chains and Export Readiness and Access to Sustainable Finance and ESG‑Linked Investments. 

The participants of the Forum concluded that stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, financial institutions, chambers, and development partners is essential to make sustainability a driver of growth, exports, and resilience. They recommended establishing a national multi‑stakeholder platform to promote sustainable business practices, providing tailored support and financing for SMEs to meet EU market requirements, expanding access to blended sustainable financing, empowering business chambers to deliver practical ESG solutions, and measuring progress through a national dashboard on sustainable competitiveness. Together, these steps aim to turn sustainability into a source of long‑term economic strength and improved living standards. 

“Sustainability should be integrated into every niche of the societal framework, from education to private sector, so that in the spirit of Agenda 2030, no one is left behind and that everyone can contribute to the societal development,” participants recommended.  

In addition to many institutional representatives, including the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Macedonian Stock Exchange and others, people from numerous private companies also joined the discussion with their own experiences and practices, aiming to inspire other companies to follow suit. Among them were representatives from EVN, Telekom, Pakomak,  Zavar, TAV airports, ECO Fluid, Alkaloid, Vitaminka, Makstil, Tikvesh, Comfy Angel, Kostal, several domestic banks (NLB, ProCredit and Halk Bank) and international financing institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).