Macedonia2025 Proposes a Plan for Accelerated Economic Growth and Offers Support for Its Implementation

Improving the quality of life through accelerated economic growth is the main goal of the reform plan VISION FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH, proposed by the organization Macedonia2025. The plan is based on the “Platform for Prosperity”, which Macedonia2025 introduced in 2020, with its foundations including:

• Zero tolerance for corruption, through transparency, a merit-based system, and personal accountability;

• Continuous GDP growth of over 5% annually, through increased investment in education, business and regulatory reforms, export support, and reduction of the shadow economy;

• High-quality and efficient public administration and European Union accession.

"Macedonia faces significant development challenges at the local, regional, and global levels, whose complexity and uncertainty, combined with slow progress in approaching EU living standards, call for comprehensive, intensive, and thorough action in the upcoming period. These conditions motivated us to dedicate ourselves to creating concrete measures that aim to encourage all actors in society to take decisive actions for their implementation," said Nikica Mojsoska-Blazhevski, Executive Director of Macedonia2025.

Reflecting on the role the organization will play in implementing the mentioned “Platform for Prosperity” and the VISION FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH plan derived from it, co-founder of Macedonia2025, Mike Zafirovski, stated:

"As an organization, we are ready to take a constructive role in implementing the activities from the platform, acting as partners, active participants, and leaders. Beyond financial support, we are prepared to strengthen our lobbying efforts in the USA, the EU, and neighboring countries to ensure favorable outcomes for Macedonia. We will support the country’s digitalization and engage experienced experts in the areas of development and anti-corruption policies. Macedonia2025 will mobilize its entire network and resources to achieve the goals and principles on which the development platform and reform plan are based. At the same time, we are ready to cooperate with all interested parties, including political parties, to achieve these goals, which will allow us to build a stronger nation together – now and in the years to come,"emphasized Zafirovski.

Board member of the organization, Gjorgje Vojnovic, confirmed Macedonia2025’s readiness to actively engage in supporting the principles fundamental to accelerated growth. “I would like to express personal readiness, unity, and dedication of all Macedonia2025 members to help implement the key points of the Vision for Accelerated Growth,” said Vojnovic.

The set of measures in the VISION FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH plan focuses on three areas: comprehensive digitalization of the country, strengthening competitiveness, and leveraging the potential of the diaspora.

"In the area of digitalization, we propose measures that will allow citizens and businesses to receive all services and documents from government institutions electronically. This means full digitalization of government services at the central and local level, as well as creating a support system for the digitalization of micro, small, and medium enterprises. Macedonia2025 has already begun implementing one of these measures by establishing the Center for Digital Transformation ‘GoDigital,’ which we make available to achieve goals in this area," said Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of M2025, Vasko Kronevski.

Speaking about the measures in the plan to strengthen the competitiveness of the Macedonian economy, Board member Zhivko Mukaetov emphasized: "The pace and scale of our country’s economic growth directly depend on how much and what we export. To hope for increased exports, it is essential to immediately reduce unnecessary bureaucratic burdens for exporters and revise regulations that not only fail to help but reduce their competitive position."

Building on his statement, Board member Viktor Mizo added: "To enhance the overall concreteness of the domestic economy, the country must attract new foreign investments, which requires establishing a new strategy, including a new model attractive to investors. For this, effective agencies must be built that will truly enable investors to quickly implement their projects in our country."

Regarding the third set of measures in the VISION FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH plan, aimed at better utilizing the potential of the diaspora, Board member Borjan Borozanov stated: "Macedonia faces strong emigration trends and a declining population, resulting in an increasing labor shortage, which has already become a barrier to the country’s economic development. One solution to this serious challenge is to create opportunities that will facilitate the return of expatriates to their homeland. For this, our organization offers concrete measures and policies that the state can immediately implement."

A large number of Macedonia2025 members contributed to the preparation of the reform plan, which is based on analyses and expertise from various fields. They provided significant personal input, leveraging and networking their extensive knowledge and professional experience. Ahead of the upcoming elections, the organization will present the plan to relevant stakeholders in society to ensure that its measures become part of the country’s overall development agenda in the next period.