Skopje, 25 March 2026 (MIA) - The Swiss Chamber of North Macedonia (SwissCham MK) was promoted Wednesday as a new platform for advancing economic cooperation, investments, and corporate networking between North Macedonia and Switzerland. The Chamber is being established as the result of a long-standing initiative by leading companies and institutional support from the Swiss Embassy, with the goal of creating a stable and trustworthy corporate community based on recognizable Swiss values.

The Chamber will work on deepening partnerships and new investment opportunities; it will serve as a bridge of trust between people, businesses, and institutions, building partnerships founded on quality, precision, integrity, and transparency.

“We live in a time when the global economy is changing faster than ever before. The past decade has clearly shown us that models based solely on efficiency have their limitations. Today, alongside costs, the security, resilience, and reliability of supply chains have become equally important. In this context, nearshoring emerges as a strategic opportunity. For Macedonia, this means the potential to attract new investments, create quality jobs, and accelerate technological development. For Switzerland, it offers diversification and the strengthening of partnerships in a region that is becoming increasingly vital for Europe’s economic future,” stressed the Chamber’s President, Sonja Stefanovska.

Swiss Ambassador Christoph Sommer emphasized that Switzerland and Macedonia already enjoy strong economic ties. However, through the Chamber, he added, a concrete platform is being created that will transform existing interest into tangible partnerships and new opportunities for growth.

“Switzerland and North Macedonia already share strong and growing economic ties. More than 100 Swiss companies operate in the country, creating jobs, investing in innovation, and contributing to the local economy. But our partnership goes beyond the companies already present here. Many businesses in North Macedonia are already collaborating with Swiss partners, and many more are eager to do so. North Macedonia offers many of the conditions Swiss companies are looking for. They value reliable partnerships, access to markets, and a skilled workforce. North Macedonia provides exactly these: talented people, a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a strategic location in the region. By strengthening our economic cooperation, we can create new opportunities for Swiss businesses while supporting sustainable growth and innovation here in North Macedonia,” the Ambassador said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Zoran Dimitrovski, noted that SwissCham MK will enable better communication, information exchange, support for new business initiatives, and the development of joint projects.

“I am convinced that through such an institutional framework, economic cooperation will be strengthened and the creation of new business partnerships will be encouraged. In this sense, the Government, and especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, remain fully committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen economic diplomacy and advance international economic cooperation. Cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential for building a stable and competitive economy and for opening new perspectives for our companies,” Dimitrovski said. 
SwissCham MK was founded by more than 70 companies, including Baumer, Makstil, Rontis, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Pakomak. Agriculture, agribusiness, the IT sector, and manufacturing are just some of the areas identified as having strong potential for intensifying cooperation between North Macedonia and Switzerland.

Photo: MIA