The Economic Chamber participated in an international interview organized and broadcast by Clevenard TV, part of the broader Clevenard global networking and media platform dedicated to international business cooperation, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, investment promotion, and intercultural dialogue.

The interview, conducted by Dr. Levy Motebejane under the title “Economic Diplomacy, International Trade Cooperation and the Role of Chambers of Commerce in Strengthening Global Partnerships,” focused on the growing role of chambers of commerce in connecting institutions, businesses, and international markets in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

Representing the Chamber, Daniel Matrakoski, International Cooperation Expert, presented the institution’s current priorities and activities aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and international positioning of Macedonian companies.

Throughout the discussion, economic diplomacy emerged as the central leitmotif of the interview, with emphasis placed on the Chamber’s role as “an active platform for economic diplomacy, international networking, and long-term business development.”

Special attention was devoted to the Chamber’s strategic priorities for the coming period:

·       education tailored to business needs,

·       strengthening regional and international cooperation,

·       and increasing exports.

In this regard, the Matrakoski highlighted the Chamber’s active involvement in the implementation of dual education and practical vocational training, as well as ongoing efforts toward introducing work-based learning in higher education in order to better align educational systems with labor market demands.

The Chamber’s extensive international activities were also presented, including cooperation with business organizations across the world, with more than 100 signed Memorandums of Understanding with foreign partner institutions. Matrakoski placed additional emphasis on the Chamber’s role within regional initiatives such as the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum and the Association of Balkan Chambers, aimed at advancing regional economic integration and creating a more competitive common market in Southeast Europe.

Addressing investment opportunities in Macedonia, Matrakoski underlined the country’s strategic geographic position along Pan-European Corridors 8 and 10, competitive operational environment, and growing potential in sectors such as automotive production, ICT, renewable energy, agri-food production, logistics, tourism, and infrastructure development. It was noted that the automotive industry today accounts for nearly half of the country’s exports, while the ICT sector continues to achieve strong annual growth and trade surplus.

The discussion further addressed digital transformation and innovation exchange as key drivers of future competitiveness. In that context, the Chamber’s participation in the EU co-funded DigitMAK project was presented as an example of efforts to accelerate digital transformation through strategic partnerships, emerging technologies, and institutional cooperation.

The interview additionally focused on broader global economic trends, regional integration, technology transfer, and sustainable development, including the importance of supporting SMEs, strengthening cross-continental partnerships, and addressing rural depopulation and emigration through balanced regional development and investment in infrastructure, digital connectivity, tourism, and local entrepreneurship.

Concluding the interview, Matrakoski emphasized that long-term prosperity increasingly depends on strategic cooperation between institutions, businesses, and societies capable of combining innovation, sustainability, competitiveness, and people-to-people connectivity — reaffirming the important role chambers of commerce continue to play in strengthening international partnerships and economic diplomacy in the modern global economy.