North Macedonia offers access to more than 650 million consumers

North Macedonia offers access to more than 650 million consumers, North Macedonia's Minister of Economy and Labour Besar Durmishi said at the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026) in Baku, Report informs.

According to the minister, their main goal is to turn North Macedonia into a destination where investors can find predictability, developed infrastructure, access to markets, a professional workforce, and strong institutional support:

"Our main advantages are our geographical location and market potential. North Macedonia is located at the intersection of Corridors 8 and 10, which creates natural opportunities for manufacturing, logistics, and the distribution of products to various markets. But more importantly, an investor operating in North Macedonia is not limited to the domestic market. Thanks to our network of trade agreements, we have access to more than 650 million consumers. This means that production carried out in North Macedonia can be directed toward the broader European and regional markets.

Another important advantage concerns our industrial infrastructure. The planning and development of 15 Technological Industrial Development Zones are being carried out across the country. Eight of them are currently operational, have ready infrastructure, and have investors operating in them. These zones create a complete ecosystem for investment through state support, tax and customs incentives, ready infrastructure, and institutional assistance.

In this context, I would like to highlight another important issue: our support does not end when an investor comes to our country. We have established an 'aftercare' mechanism that continues to operate after the investor's arrival. Under this mechanism, relevant institutions continue working with companies after the investment is made, helping address operational challenges, expand businesses, and improve conditions for future investments."

According to Durmishi, this is of great importance because North Macedonia wants investors not only to come to the country, but also to continue operating and reinvesting there.

"The third advantage is the foundation we have already established in the automotive industry. North Macedonia has become an important partner in the supply chain of the European automotive industry, with companies in the country supplying both European and Turkish markets. As a government, our task is to transform these advantages into an even more predictable, effective, and competitive business environment. In the future, we intend not only to attract more investment, but also higher-value investments - investments that bring technology and know-how, create better-paid jobs, and strengthen local supply chains."