"Let us work together to build India-North Macedonia economic partnership founded on trust": President Droupadi Murmu
Skopje, July 22
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday called for expanding India-North Macedonia cooperation in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, renewable energy and emerging technologies, saying stronger business partnerships could unlock new opportunities for both countries.
Addressing the India-North Macedonia Business Forum in Skopje, Murmu said India's pharmaceutical industry was well positioned to invest in North Macedonia through joint manufacturing facilities.
"India is known globally as the pharmacy of the world. Our pharmaceutical sector is poised to invest in North Macedonia by establishing joint manufacturing facilities here. We can secure the supply of affordable, advanced life-saving medicines and medical devices for the entire Balkan and European markets," she said.
Highlighting opportunities in agriculture, the President said North Macedonia's fertile land and strategic location made it an attractive destination for Indian agro-companies.
"Our businesses can explore collaborations in modern food processing and cold chain logistics and build a resilient food supply chain that connects into the broader European Union markets," she said.
Murmu also invited North Macedonia to deepen cooperation with India in clean energy and climate resilience through global initiatives led by New Delhi.
She said India saw "immense scope" for joint investments in solar power, wind infrastructure and green hydrogen technologies, and invited North Macedonia to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Global Biofuels Alliance to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, disaster resilience and sustainable biofuels.
The President also invited North Macedonia to participate in the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), in India next year, describing it as a platform to promote international collaboration in the creative industries, media and entertainment sectors.
In her remarks she called for greater cooperation among startups, universities, research institutions and technology enterprises, particularly in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital innovation.
Emphasising the role of the private sector, Murmu urged businesses from both countries to identify viable projects and build long-term commercial partnerships.
"I encourage chambers of commerce, investment agencies and business associations of both countries to establish linkages and facilitate exchanges of business delegations. I also urge companies to look beyond immediate transactions and invest in partnerships based on technology transfer, joint ventures, local value creation and employment generation," she said.
In her remarks, she expressed optimism for the economies ties between the two countries to flourish on values such as trust and shared prosperity.
"Let us work together to build an India-North Macedonia economic partnership founded on trust, innovation and shared prosperity," she said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting approach, but I hope our government isn't spreading itself too thin. With so many international initiatives like ISA, CDRI, and now WAVES, we need to ensure that the implementation is as good as the vision. Still, it's a proud moment for India to be reaching out to Balkan nations in such a comprehensive way. Let's see if this translates into real investment and jobs.
North Macedonia is a gateway to Europe - this is a brilliant diplomatic move! By partnering with them in renewable energy, especially solar and green hydrogen, we can leverage their location for Europe's green transition. Plus, inviting them to join the International Solar Alliance shows India's commitment to leading global clean energy efforts. Proud of our President's vision! 🌞💚
Trust is the foundation of any partnership, and President Murmu is right to emphasize it. But we need to be realistic - Balkan nations have complex political histories. I hope our trade agreements are watertight and protect Indian interests. Also, why is she inviting them to WAVES? That seems a bit off-topic for a business forum. 🤔
This is exactly the kind of pragmatic diplomacy India needs! From pharma to agriculture to AI - covering all the right sectors. The cold chain logistics partnership for food supply into EU markets could be a game-changer for our farmers. And inviting North Macedonia to join global alliances shows we're not just talking, we're leading. Good job, President Murmu! 👏
While I appreciate the outreach, I hope
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