Branko Azeski: Innovation and exports are the key to survival for Macedonian businesses

Branko Azeski, president of the Economic Chamber, believes that innovations represent the future and the only way for Macedonian enterprises to compete against European and global companies, thus securing their place in large markets.

At the Macedonia-Austria business forum, held by the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia and the Trade Office of the Austrian Embassy in Skopje, Azeski appealed to businesses to report every effort to introduce innovative technological solutions to the Chamber, in order to receive proper support, reports “Lokalno”.

According to him, this is the only way domestic firms can be able to rival European ones. “If our companies manage to create some advantage from the start and fill gaps in the system that produce additional flows, then they have a chance to move forward. For this reason, all our engagements with the Government are focused here. I therefore invite companies to inform us of any such initiative, to raise these issues, because only in this way will we manage to produce a competitive product for export,” Azeski said.

He emphasized that a small country like Macedonia cannot survive without exports. According to him, exports are the key and market diversification is also essential, so that Macedonian companies can expand into markets beyond the European Union.

“Export is the key that must unlock new markets and transform the current situation, where 75 percent of our economic transactions go to the EU. We need to diversify into other markets, because we cannot continue as we are currently organized. We must open new markets and enable the exchange of ideas and development,” Azeski stated.