MAK-SLO Meeting During the Official Visit of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia

MAK-SLO BUSINESS CLUB PRESS RELEASE Ljubljana, May 2026 MEETING OF MAK-SLO BUSINESS CLUB MEMBERS DURING THE OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA On May 17, 2026, the MAK-SLO Business Club hosted a significant gathering of the business communities from Slovenia and North Macedonia, held in conjunction with the official visit of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Prof. Dr. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. The event took place at ...on the premises of the SBC – Slovenian Business Club in Ljubljana.

The event was opened with a formal address by Mr. Antonio Argir, President of the Management Board of the MAK-SLO Business Club.

In his address, he highlighted the significance of reactivating the club, viewing it both as an opportunity and a commitment to engage in more active and concrete efforts to connect the business communities of the two countries. He emphasized that economic cooperation is not built merely on figures and contracts, but primarily on trust, personal connections, and long-term partnerships. Drawing on his own experience—as a Macedonian who has lived and worked in Slovenia for over four years and maintains close professional ties with the NLB Group—he noted that the people, business cultures, and values of Macedonia and Slovenia are remarkably similar. Today, many successful Macedonians are well-established within the Slovenian economy and broader society, while Slovenian companies, in turn, make a significant contribution to the development of the Macedonian economy. He specifically welcomed the presence of the club’s members, partners, and supporters, noting that the attendance of the President served as a clear affirmation that cooperation between the two nations has a promising future. In terms of the response, energy, number of attendees, and the quality of business interaction, the event exceeded all the organizers' expectations, clearly demonstrating a rapidly growing interest in fostering ties between the Slovenian and Macedonian economies. The gathering brought together a large number of entrepreneurs, executives, representatives from various organizations and institutions, and business partners from both Slovenia and North Macedonia—a fact that lent significant professional weight to the event and opened up numerous new avenues for future collaboration. The event was attended by Ambassadors Gregor Presker and Goran Milevski, as well as official delegations from both countries—a 10-member delegation from the Republic of North Macedonia and a 3-member Slovenian delegation led by Janja Grilc. The presence of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Prof. Dr. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, lent particular weight and significance to the event; her support underscored the importance of developing economic cooperation between the two nations and forging strong international business ties. In her address, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia highlighted the reactivation of the MAK-SLO Business Club, emphasizing its vital role in connecting entrepreneurs, unlocking new business opportunities, and building a stable economic bridge between the two countries. She described the Club as a key player capable of significantly contributing to the development of international cooperation, increasing economic exchange, and fostering new investment, development, and business opportunities—both in Slovenia and abroad.

In his presentation, the Club’s Executive Director, Dragan Šibanc, stressed that the goal of revitalizing the Club was not merely to reactivate its name, but to establish a functional, long-term platform designed to connect Slovenian and Macedonian entrepreneurs in a concrete, measurable, and strategic manner.

He emphasized that the revitalization process, carried out in collaboration with an initiative committee, has been underway since November 2023. The focus has been primarily on restoring trust, aligning key stakeholders, and defining a clear strategic direction for the club’s development. Consequently, the club is now built upon:

targeted business meetings,

connecting companies based on their sectors of activity,

organizing strategic events,

and facilitating knowledge transfer that leads to concrete implementation and the development of business cooperation.

At the same time, the club is actively engaging with the broader business ecosystem—including institutions, other business clubs, trade associations, business councils, networks, and partners in both countries. The club’s vision is to create an environment where collaboration is not merely symbolic, but rather concrete, measurable, and focused on the long-term creation of shared value for entrepreneurs and the business community. The event was characterized by an exceptionally positive energy, open communication, a high level of mutual respect, and a keen interest in future joint activities. Special emphasis was placed on:

connecting entrepreneurs,

opening up new markets,

digital transformation,

energy projects,

investments,

the pharmaceutical sector,

logistics,

industry,

tourism,

the automotive industry,

financial services,

and the exchange of knowledge and good business practices between the two countries.

Through open discussions, presentations, and B2B meetings, participants highlighted the significant potential for further economic integration, as well as the need for stronger and more organized cooperation between the business communities of both countries. A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the business clubs of Ljubljana and Skopje, executed by the chairmen of their respective boards, Mr. Antonio Argir and Mr. Vojdan Jordanov. This memorandum marks a significant step forward in strengthening mutual trust, fostering organized networking, and developing a long-term business vision shared by the Slovenian and Macedonian business communities. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for even more intensive coordination regarding future projects, business delegations, investment links, joint events, and international economic activities. With this event, the MAK-SLO Business Club has clearly demonstrated its growing prominence and importance as a catalyst for international business connections within the region. The event was more than just a formal protocol meeting; it served as a concrete platform for forging new business relationships, generating fresh ideas, establishing new connections, and creating opportunities for companies looking to expand their operations beyond their national borders. The strong response from entrepreneurs, excellent guests, high standard of organization, robust institutional support, and overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants serve as both an additional motivation and a commitment. We remain dedicated to actively building a strong international business network and forging new avenues for cooperation between Slovenia, North Macedonia, and the broader international arena. MAK-SLO Business Club Ljubljana, May 2026