16.10.2025 – A meeting was held at the premises of the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia with the Independent Candidate for Mayor of Gostivar Municipality, Mr. Visar Ademi. With this meeting, ECNWM finished the cycle of meetings with representatives of political entities and candidates for mayors, as part of the ongoing dialogue on local economic development and the improvement of the business climate, as well as the presentation of the proposed measures that ECNWM has for the respective municipalities.
Mr. Visar Ademi was welcomed by the Acting President of ECNWM, Mr. Nuhi Aliu, the Executive Director, Mr. Durim Zekiri, and the Honorary President, Mr. Xhemail Dauti, with whom an open discussion was held regarding the candidate’s municipal program and the ECNWM platform.
In his speech, the Acting President of ECNWM, Mr. Nuhi Aliu, emphasized the importance of public-private partnership as a key factor for sustainable local development. He added that cooperation between public institutions and the private sector is a prerequisite for increasing investments, improving infrastructure, and strengthening the local economy, stressing that ECNWM is committed to serving as a bridge between the business community and local authorities.
For his part, Mr. Visar Ademi presented his governance program for the Municipality of Gostivar, with particular focus on economic development, employment and entrepreneurship, education and youth empowerment, institutional transparency, digitalization and innovation, urban planning and infrastructure, as well as cultural heritage, tourism, and the diaspora. He placed special emphasis on the need for green investments, stating that all capital projects should be oriented towards the use of solar panels and renewable energy sources, as a pathway toward sustainable development and environmental protection.
Following, the Executive Director of ECNWM, Mr. Durim Zekiri, presented the key points of the Platform for Local Economic Development of North Macedonia, linking the discussion to the Chamber’s first strategic pillar, the rule of law, effective institutions with fiscal and financial responsibility, as an essential prerequisite for a strong free-market economy. He also emphasized the need for reforms in public and state institutions, the development of the local economy, infrastructure and the living environment, agriculture, summer and winter tourism, as well as transparency and accountability.
The Honorary President of ECNWM, Mr. Xhemail Dauti, emphasized the issue of decentralization of power, highlighting that after the conclusion of the local elections, it is essential to develop a joint decentralization concept in cooperation with all municipal mayors, in order to ensure a more efficient and autonomous functioning of local government. At the end of the meeting, the issue of waste management was also discussed, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions in the collection and treatment of waste, as one of the main challenges for improving the quality of life and the environment in the Municipality of Gostivar.
