Skopje, 13 October 2021 (MIA) – Even the best government programs can’t be realized with the existing model of local self-government, especially with the weak capacity of some mayors. It’s about time for the municipalities to stop serving populism and focus on long-term solving of key matters instead of only dealing with day-to-day issues, the business sector says. The businessmen talking to MIA agree that the central government’s influence should be lessened over the municipalities, and that the merit system should start working, because it will draw the most qualified administrative staff to the surface. They believe that the local government will have to reinstate trust with the citizens and the business, as well as setting foundations for local economic development. “We live in a time when the countries are doing all they can to enable access to the global market to their businesses in order to expand placement and the markets while we’re facing a shortage of elementary living conditions, starting from plumbing, sewage and waste management. Meanwhile, the programs for local support of startups, tech parks or incubators stay on paper as mere promises. Let’s not even talk about farmland owned by the municipalities, which remain as unused potential for businesses,” says Drilon Iseni, executive director of the Economic Chamber of Northwest Macedonia. Iseni adds that local elections are of crucial importance if a large percentage of the things written in election programs and platforms gets delivered. He points out that the municipalities should take their place in improving the citizens’ everyday lives, as well as improving the business sector. “Even the best strategies and programs of the government can’t be realized with the existing model of local self-government, especially with the weak capacities of some mayors. Credit goes to exceptions which have done a lot to improve the functionality of the municipality from an aspect of improving the citizens’ lives, a fact that provides hope that things can get better. We think it’s about time for the politics of the central government to have a smaller influence on the municipalities’ work. The municipalities should work according to a concrete business model that will enable short-term and long-term sustainability, by implementing a system that will minimize the human factor in the decision-making process for the demands of businesses, implementing a merit system of administration where the best will be improved and take according managerial positions,” Iseni points out. He says that this is the right step towards solving the citizens’ daily issues in the short-term, as well as setting foundations for economic development over the medium term. “The municipalities and their mayors should focus on realizing projects that have multidimensional effects over the next four years, instead of serving populism through solving day-to-day issues. They should work on quality projects which address and solve key issues long-term,” Iseni says. He also says that the local self-government is part of the chain of the most important factors of equal regional development, a bitter problem in the last decade that constantly has the Chamber on high alert. “We believe that the local government will have to restore trust in the citizens and the business over the next four years in order to set foundations for local economic development. The first part will be achieved through transparency, accountability, and service digitalization, and the second part through implementing technological development parks, incubators and programs to support female entrepreneurship, as well as businesses founded by young people in rural areas,” Iseni says. He adds that, if they’re smart, the mayors need only follow the recommendations of the business which can best turn issues into opportunities. The Economic Chamber of Northwest Macedonia, the director says, presented the Platform for Local Economic Development to the political parties participating in the local elections. The platform is based on four pillars: transparency and accountability, effective administration, development of local businesses, and modern and functional infrastructure. It’s comprised of seven chapters: legislation, reforms in municipal administration, development of local economy, infrastructure, environment, agriculture and tourism. “Our platform offers concrete solutions which are applicable to every municipality. If future mayors are smart, they’ll only apply these measures, because they’re actually suggestions by businesses from businesses that turn issues into opportunities in the best way. During the pandemic, these businesses offered solutions to the government about surviving the crisis,” Iseni says, pointing out that the demands of the business community should be reflected in the government’s policies, because the business is the one contributing to the citizens’ well-being and the economy as a whole. The Macedonia-Turkey Chamber of Commerce (MATTO) expects a local government that will secure more trust and stability in the way society operates, as well as a local government that will focus more on the economy instead of politics. “Regardless of which candidates get elected as mayors at these local elections, they will be expected to provide new ideas and activities to contribute to the municipalities’ economic growth. The decisions regarding the projects the newly elected mayors should realize, such as budget stimulations and business support, are incredibly important. We weren’t always close enough to the activities and reforms in the local self-governments which we needed from an economic point of view over the last period as a business factor. We all need municipalities and cities with strong economies, with fewer issues and challenges which we can solve easier if we work together,” says MATTO president Ajdovan Ademoski for MIA. He believes that it’s necessary for the municipalities’ potential to be used to the max if we want to retain the population and create better living conditions for the current and future generations. “In this direction, we believe that the newly elected mayors will open up new opportunities for cooperation with the business communities in the country, because it’s the only correct way for the societal structures to work positively. Our expectations are focused towards close cooperation with local governments, which entails including the business communities in the creation of development programs and activities of municipalities,” Ademovski says. He adds that the business awaits a mayor that knows its municipality’s problems, which communicates with the public and is open to the idea of consultations and dialogue. “The mayor is the person that can improve the quality of life in the municipality. We have ideas that we can suggest to the candidates. There are many open issues, as well as areas that need intervention. One of the biggest priorities is improving air quality and setting up intelligent transport. I, as president, believe, as I’m sure many others do, that it’s necessary to take steps to reduce the emissions of harmful gases from traffic through clean public transport, i.e., railroad systems like subways, streetcars or electric buses, as well as promoting and motivating a more mass use of bikes through the opening of new bicycle lanes. We support every initiative that motivates the use of electric vehicles and other alternative vehicles, as well as creating an environment for the carpool method which is widely used abroad, which reduces the use of vehicles with just one passenger,” Ademoski says. His attitude is that modern trends from developed countries should be followed in urban living and working, which entails intelligent environment management, smart technologies and organized green industrial areas. “At any rate, the possibilities for work and improvement of societal life are open and numerous. As a business community, we’re always open and ready to get involved in the activities and initiatives of the municipalities which will secure better lives for the citizens, contributing to keeping young people in our country,” the MATTO president says. Zoran Jovanovski, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia, says that it’s exceptionally important for the municipalities to secure stability in its financial working so that they’re able to timely and fully complete their financial obligations to the private sector. “It’s not about what the Chamber expects from these elections, but what it expects from the way the local self-governments operate regardless of the results of these elections or any future local elections. The private sector expects efficiency from the municipalities when it comes to completing the activities that shape the local economic ambience. This includes creating urban plans, quick and effective issuing of necessary permits and agreements of any kind and providing quality services within the local self-government’s jurisdiction. The municipalities and the private sector act in the direction of quicker economic growth and development and better living conditions for the citizens, and they should have mutual respect and good cooperation,” Jovanovski says. The inability to pay for the demands, sometimes for longer periods of time, such as in bigger, accumulated amounts, Jovanovski believes, adversely affects the liquidity of private sector companies with all other negative consequences that follow. This issue requires a systemic solution, the Chamber of Commerce’s president highlights, such as the announced legal changes for the future increased sources of funding municipalities, as well as appropriate amendments to Article 218 to the Law on Enforcement. “The private sector companies deliver goods and services to the municipalities, but sometimes they can’t charge for their demands. This issue occurs in situations when the companies have court rulings, they can’t prosecute,” Jovanovski concludes. Mirjana Chakarova Translated by Dragana Knezhevikj