Business Mission to North Macedonia

The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Skopje and Slovakia Travel, organised a business mission to North Macedonia on 18–20 February 2026. The mission took place alongside the official working visit of the Slovak delegation led by the Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Ladislav Kamenický.

The Slovak business delegation consisted of 15 companies representing a broad range of sectors, including information and communication technologies, smart solutions, construction, mechanical engineering, agriculture, energy, legal and advisory services, and tourism.

Business forum

A key highlight of the mission was the North Macedonia–Slovakia Business Forum, held on 19 February in Skopje. The event was organised in cooperation with Macedonian partners  he Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Invest North Macedonia and the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia.

The forum was officially opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, Timčo Mucunski, and the Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic, Ladislav Kamenický. In their opening remarks, both ministers described the forum as an effective platform for advancing bilateral economic cooperation. They noted that the event reflects the close relationship between the two countries and their shared goal of deepening economic cooperation through the exchange of knowledge, experience and innovation.

Minister Mucunski highlighted Slovakia’s achievements in the automotive industry, innovation and energy transition as a strong foundation for deeper cooperation through joint investments, supply chain integration and technology transfer.

During the forum, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between SARIO and Invest North Macedonia, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation in trade and investment.

The forum included dozens of B2B and B2G meetings held with 40 Macedonian companies, as well as with representatives of 6 institutions, including the ministries of health, energy, transport, culture and tourism, the innovation agency INOVA, and the Development Bank of North Macedonia. The forum combined both B2B and B2G meetings, creating space for direct dialogue between businesses and public institutions. These discussions provided Slovak companies with first-hand insights into upcoming projects, investment plans and market entry requirements.

SARIO, Invest North Macedonia, Eximbanka SR, the Development Bank of North Macedonia and Slovakia Travel also delivered presentations, providing insights into the business and investment environments of Slovakia and North Macedonia, including key economic policies, support instruments for export and financing, and opportunities in the tourism sector. The Slovak business and investment environment was presented by Egon Zorád, CEO of SARIO..

Site visits

As part of the programme, and in collaboration with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Skopje and Macedonian partners, professional site visits were arranged, including:

• Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and the INOFEIT – Center for Technology Transfer and Innovations
• The Technological Industrial Development Zone (TIDZ) in Skopje

At the university, the delegation was welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, who introduced the institution’s academic programmes and research activities. Participants were also presented with INOFEIT’s innovation projects, gaining practical insight into the country’s technological and innovation ecosystem and opportunities for cooperation.

The visit to TIDZ provided valuable information on investment opportunities, incentives for foreign investors and the overall framework for establishing operations in North Macedonia.

Impact and Added Value for Slovak Companies

The business forum was one of the largest bilateral forums between Slovakia and North Macedonia. It provided Slovak companies with a unique opportunity to engage not only in B2B meetings but also in direct B2G discussions with key ministries and public institutions. During the mission, participants gained a deeper understanding of the local market, the current investment climate, and planned development projects. It also allowed them to build relevant contacts and explore concrete business and investment opportunities at both commercial and governmental levels, laying the groundwork for future cooperation.