Today, at the premises of the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia a meeting was held between the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Mr. Cvetan Tripunovski, and representatives of ECNWM. The meeting was attended by Acting President Mr. Nuhi Aliu, Executive Director Mr. Durim Zeqiri, as well as members of the Agriculture and Rural Development Cluster within ECNWM, led by the Coordinator Mr. Arben Halili.
The purpose of the meeting was to present the Ministry’s campaign, which aims to strengthen domestic agricultural production and raise awareness about the quality of the country’s agricultural products. ECNWM and member companies from this sector welcomed the initiative, expressing their readiness to support it, including placing the campaign’s logo on their products. At the same time, they emphasized that this should not remain a temporary initiative but should have long-term continuity, given the importance of this sector for the national economy.
Mr. Aliu highlighted the need for sustainable institutional support, as well as active involvement of the private sector in shaping agricultural policies. Meanwhile, members of the Cluster raised several important issues, such as the full and proper implementation of the Law on the Prohibition of Unfair Trading Practices and the adoption of measures to increase the competitiveness of domestic products, as a prerequisite for the campaign’s success.
Executive Director Mr. Zeqiri stressed the need for a strategic and well-documented approach to protecting domestic production, warning that customs exemptions for foreign products that directly compete with domestic ones could render the latter non-competitive. He noted that a significant share of the country’s exports is generated by foreign companies, particularly those operating in industrial zones, while domestic producers must also be equally supported and encouraged if sustainable agricultural development is to be achieved.
On the other part, Minister Tripunovski expressed his gratitude for the support of the chamber, describing it as an important step toward achieving common goals. He emphasized that the mission of the campaign is to strengthen the identity and reputation of local farmers and promote their quality products, while also providing a broader platform for companies engaged in processing domestic agricultural products.
The meeting concluded with a press conference and an agreement for further cooperation, aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector and rural development as a key pillar of the national economy.
