North Macedonia's economy grows 3.7% in H1 2026, minister says

North Macedonia's economy grew by 3.7% in the first half of 2026, with fixed capital investment increasing by 9.3%, Minister of Economy and Labour of North Macedonia Besar Durmishi said at the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026), Report informs.

According to him, economic growth reached 4.3% in the second quarter, with investment serving as one of the main drivers of economic activity.

"For us, this is an important signal that in times of global uncertainty, we must not abandon the investment cycle. On the contrary, we need to continue investing in infrastructure, energy, digitalization, human capital, and production capacity," Durmishi said.

He noted that North Macedonia is also strengthening its economic resilience through Euro-Atlantic and European integration. The country has been a NATO member since 2020 and a candidate for European Union accession.

The minister emphasized that stability, predictability, and access to large markets are essential for a small, open economy. According to Durmishi, trade agreements provide North Macedonia with access to a market of over 650 million consumers, including through the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, free trade agreements with Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, as well as regional trade mechanisms.