Skopje, 23.05.2025
The Minister of Economy and Labor, Besar Durmishi, today in the premises of the Ministry welcomed a high-ranking delegation from the Kingdom of Norway, led by HE Kristin Melsom, Ambassador of Norway to North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as representatives of Government institutions and well-known Norwegian companies.
The delegation also included Ms. Anita Krokan – Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway; Mr. Gudleik Nja – General Director of “Lærdal Medical”; Mr. Peter Remøy – Executive Director of “Remøy Invest”; Mr. Lars Mikkelsen, Mr. Hugo Halvorsen and Mr. Rune Maele – investors and shareholders in the company “Avanto”. Representatives of “Normak Investment Group” from Norway and Tetovo were also present: Mr. Besim Zeqiri, Mr. Aki Etemi, Mr. Arijan Etemi and Mr. Aleksandar
Zharkov.
At the meeting were discussed opportunities for expanding Norwegian investments in North Macedonia, with special emphasis on the Tetovo Technological and Industrial Development Zone (TIDZ Tetovo), which has been recognized by the Norwegian Government as one of the most significant investment projects in the region.
Minister Durmishi noted that although political and bilateral relations between the two countries are excellent, economic cooperation has not yet followed the same intensity. According to official data, the total trade exchange between North Macedonia and Norway averages around EUR8 million per year – a figure that is relatively low compared to the real potential for cooperation.
The Minister recalled that a Public-Private Partnership Agreement was signed with the company "Normak Investment Group AD Tetovo" in 2021. In addition to existing investments, such as that of the company LEAR, two new investments have been announced, including an investment from the company "Norsksolar", which has already made an investment decision.
The Minister underlined that North Macedonia is currently attracting more Norwegian investments than any other country in the Western Balkans - a success that confirms the trust and competitive advantages offered by our country.
In the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister once again confirmed the strong institutional commitment to improving the business climate, attracting foreign investments, supporting domestic companies and developing the labor market, as part of the new responsibilities of the Ministry of Economy and Labor.