The year 2020 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the ECNWM. Jubilee year, which may sound like a modest number until the memory of its creation is enlightened with a magnificent genesis that derives from the strong will of the Albanian business in the country. Its establishment at that time was undoubtedly challenging but at the same time hopeful for all business entities operating mainly in the north-western region, and later the activity of the ECNWM to cover the further regions such as the Eastern, Pelagonia, etc.

The initiatives against it, which were carried out through ethnic labeling, made it’s journey not easy, aiming to raise doubts as to whether this institution would be able to survive the institutional challenges. And so was the Chamber’s initiative, a long and difficult period where its resilience was determined by successive tests, but time allowed the institution to be established through the encouragement and support of the group of founders of the Chamber who have always been there.

As time passed, the presence of the Chamber in the country developed at the same pace. The second decade finds ECNWM in a more enviable and institutionally elevated situation, with a more extensive network with new membership, diversified sectors and a larger number of projects. Open and with a proactive approach to its membership, ECNWM has already begun to visit and meet with its members to identify and address the issues of their daily lives through the implementation of programs such as “Member for Member”, Business Women’s Group, Services Desk, B-wall, etc in order to be as close as possible to its membership.

Being active in the face of the problems surrounding the Albanian business, it made us as an institution to be among the main economic Chambers of the country, gaining the title as the real protector of business needs. What makes our status as an institution even more special is the fact that we remained immune from any political coloring and distanced any interest group that did not aim at the collective interest of businesses in general.

Taking into account the strategy of the Chamber, we will continue to contribute to the realization of business rights and interests, increasing membership and expanding services. This 15-year retrospective of existence, will serve as a reactor from where learning, ideas and energy will spring to continue to contribute to this common cause of business.

We have grown in these recent years with giant steps, while the spectrum presented in the vision of the future, gives us clear signs that we will have to continue with the same desire to work. We will ensure that the celebration of the next jubilee year finds us even more powerful as a Chamber, under whose wings a much larger number of companies will be housed.

I am grateful for the honor given to me to lead this great Albanian institution which is known for relevance and steadfastness. May this 15th anniversary of the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia be the beginning of another successful chapter that will be written as part of the ECNWM journey.