October 14, 2025, Skopje – As part of its ongoing meetings with political parties during the election campaign, the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia held a meeting with representatives of the VLEN coalition at Hotel Actor.
The meeting was opened by the Acting President of ECNWM, Mr. Nuhi Aliu, who thanked the coalition representatives for their participation and emphasized the importance of cooperation between the private sector and local government to improve business conditions.
Also, Mr. Aliu, in his speech, highlighted the urgent need for intervention in the infrastructure of the Vizbegovo Economic Zone and its treatment as a development priority.
The meeting was also attended by the Chamber’s leadership, Executive Director Mr. Zeqiri, as well as members of the Managing Board and Supervisory Board.
Executive Director Mr. Durim Zeqiri presented the Platform for Local Economic Development, a platform that contains over 70 priority measures based on which essential reforms should be made in key sectors to create local economic development.
On their part, the representatives of the VLEN coalition emphasized that many points of the ECNWM Platform overlap with the coalition’s overall platform, as well as with the development programs of the individual municipalities they represent.
ECNWM members also presented several challenges they face in their respective municipalities, including: the urgent need to provide highway access for the Saraj area, the digitalization of services and increased efficiency of municipal administrations, and the amendment of the Law on Public Enterprises to allow competition between public and private companies in the provision of services, alongside the public-private partnership model.
Also, one of ECNWM long-standing requests was reiterated during this electoral process — namely, that the Regional Unit of the Public Revenue Office currently located in Stip be transferred to Kumanovo.
Meanwhile, Mr. Izet Mexhiti emphasized that other points of the ECNWM Platform are fully aligned with the vision of decentralization and contribute to balanced economic development across the country. He also underlined that the Vizbegovo Economic Zone and the Skopje–Blatse road will be treated as top priorities.
Mr. Bilall Kasami also noted that the Municipality of Tetovo is already in an advanced phase of implementing a digitalization project that will enable the automation of many municipal services, particularly in the field of urban planning.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Acting President of ECNWM Mr. Nuhi Aliu and the leaders of the VLEN coalition parties gave statements to the media, outlining the meeting’s conclusions and emphasizing the importance of continuous dialogue between the private sector and political representatives as a foundation for economic and social development.
