Skopje, 31 March 2026 (MIA) - The country needs its young engineers. They are facing a dilemma - to leave or stay in the country. This is a reality we should not ignore. If we want them to stay here, we must create a supportive environment in which they are motivated to develop their ideas and innovations, we have to ensure the proper conditions in practice, heard an event on the Macedonian Engineers' Day, held on the 106th anniversary of the engineering society in the country.

"My message is clear - engineering in Macedonia should be strong in knowledge but open to the future as well. Macedonia has young people who possess the knowledge, potential and capacity to be part of the European and global engineering scene. The state must create a supportive environment in which they are motivated to develop their ideas and innovations. To the young engineers - Macedonia needs you. It needs your knowledge, your curiosity, your discipline, your courage to ask new questions and seek advanced solutions," said Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska in her remarks.

According to her, engineering is not only designing buildings and systems but also confidence in the future.

"This is increasingly important nowadays because we are living in a time when energy, industry, digitalization, climate change, infrastructure and competitiveness are not perceived as separate sectors," said Bozhinovska.

"Let me recognize engineers for what they have done but also send a call for stronger joint action. Macedonia needs engineering in institutions, companies, science, local development, energy, digitalization. When talking about the future of engineering, it is not about the tradition we are marking today but the new stage the profession is entering. Engineers are not only faced with the challenge of how to maintain its traditional aspect but also how to develop in the world of AI, automation, data and new digital tools. I believe the future belongs to the people who put technology in the service of public interest," said Bozhinovska.

Engineering Institution of Macedonia President Andrej Lepavcov said engineering is more than a profession, noting it has played a key role in the country by designing the infrastructure that connects cities, the energy systems that power homes, up to innovations in technology and industry.

"Engineering represents the bridge between imagination and reality. Every road we move along, every building we enter, every system we rely on - this is not designed by coincidence. It is a result of careful planning, precise calculations and persistence. Engineers are problem solvers. Engineers design solutions where others see challenges. This way of thinking is especially important in a fast-changing world," said Lepavcov.

He added that Macedonian engineers lie in the heart of progress, saying their work is not always visible but is irreplaceable.

"We not only construct buildings and design systems, we impact the way people go about their lives. Such work is a huge responsibility but also a privilege. Therefore, we should continue to work hard, not be afraid of the new but respect past experience. Engineers in Macedonia have always been the silent carriers of development. New projects and new opportunities lie ahead. Modernization of road and railway infrastructure is underway, primarily along corridors that connect us to the region and Europe. These projects are not only about construction, they directly impact the economy, mobility and the country's future," underlined Lepavcov.

Photo: MIA