Skopje, 15 April 2026 (MIA) — Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski unveiled a EUR 2 million investment in the national postal service Wednesday, delivering a fleet of 100 new vehicles to replace an aging system that he said had long been neglected.

Speaking at a commissioning event, PM Mickoski described the procurement as a "new beginning" for the Macedonian Post Office. He was joined by Deputy PM and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski and Macedonian Post Office director Orhan Kurtishi to present the vehicles, which are intended to modernize a service plagued by delays and technical failures.

Mickoski highlighted the dire state of the current infrastructure, noting that the existing fleet had reached an average age of 15 years.

"This is not a random decision; this is a response to a real need," the prime minister said. 

"Outdated equipment meant frequent defects, increased costs and reduced efficiency. It meant delays in shipments, dissatisfied citizens and reduced trust in the system. We have decided to put an end to this," he said.

The government expects the new fleet to increase reliability by ensuring deliveries reach every settlement and company faster. This will improve the quality of service for both citizens and the business sector. Also, the new fleet will lower maintenance costs significantly, compared to the 15-year-old vehicles, he said.

The investment is part of a broader institutional renewal strategy. Mickoski outlined specific performance targets for the postal service, aiming for a 15% increase in both service delivery efficiency and profitability indicators.

"Our goal is clear: to create a modern, efficient and sustainable institution," Mickoski said. 

"We found a system that has long operated with minimal investments," he said. "Today, step by step, we are putting it back into operation."

The PM highlighted that the modernization was essential for the postal service to remain competitive in the era of digital transformation and the rapid growth of e-commerce. He said the move was a shift toward a state that "delivers" rather than one that "seeks justifications."

The Ministry of Transport oversaw the procurement, which the prime minister said was the first of several planned measures to normalize and prepare the national postal service for future market demands. mr/