Skopje, 5 December 2025 (MIA) - Our hard work over the past year and a half with the main goal of restructuring the economy gives results today. According to State Statistical Office data, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.8% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This is an additional acceleration of economic activity, following growth by 2.9% in Q1 and 3.5% in Q2 of 2025. Moreover, the 3.8% growth is among the highest in the past few years. Compared to the countries in the region and the EU, according to data for Q3 of 2025, Macedonia ranks third in terms of GDP growth, with higher growth recorded in Ireland and Denmark, Minister of Finance Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska told a press conference on Friday.   

She noted that compared to the countries in the region, in Q3 of 2025, Serbia's GDP rose by 2.0%, Montenegro 3.1%, Croatia 2.3%, Bulgaria 3.1%, Romania 1.2%, etc. Cumulatively, growth in the first three quarters of 2025 is 3.4%.

"The main driver of growth in Q3 was gross investment, which increased by an exceptionally high 30.6%, primarily as a result of the strong growth of investment in fixed assets. Thus, from the perspective of investment, this quarter is one of the most successful ones since the country's economic activity has been measured. The data on investment growth are the best indicator of the investors' trust in the domestic economy. In addition, the data confirm that the Government's strong commitment to investments in new production capacities in the past period and to increasing the competitiveness of companies has yielded exceptionally positive results," said the Finance Minister. 

According to her, high growth in investments in this period comes as a combination of several positive trends in the economy, particularly the investment activity of domestic companies, given the use and the interest in the favourable credit line provided by the Government.

"An important contribution to the growth of investments also came from the Government's strong commitment to capital investments and the optimization of their costs, dynamics, and conditions for construction. The optimization of capital investments also included intensified implementation of large infrastructure projects funded by the state, such as corridors VIII and X. In addition, a significant driver of gross investments was the support of municipalities in the implementation of capital investments aimed at a more balanced regional development and improving the lives of citizens. In summary, such a positive trend in investments shows that the Government is making the right policies, even in an exceptionally challenging period for the global economy," Dimitrieska-Kochoska said.   

In addition to investments, which are the main driver of growth in the Q3, final consumption has also made a positive contribution, with a growth of 1.8%.

"On the production side, GDP growth was recorded in all sectors, particularly in Construction by 21%. Growth in civil engineering was particularly pronounced, by an exceptionally high 58.5% in Q3 of 2025, a real growth that has not been recorded in the Macedonian economy in the last decade. This growth in construction and civil engineering is in line with the data on gross investments, and further indicates the release and intensification of capital investments in large infrastructure projects. In addition to construction, other sectors also recorded growth in this quarter. Services recorded growth by 2.9%, with high growth in Information and Communications by 7.4%, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities by 6.1%, as well as Trade and Transport by 2.6%. Also, Industry increased by 1.3%, while Manufacturing grew by 2.5%. Agriculture also grew by 4.0%," Dimitrieska-Kochoska noted. 

These data, she stressed, are a further incentive for the Government to continue working even harder and enable higher rates of economic growth that lead to a higher standard of living for citizens.

Photo: Video print screen