State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Labor, Jumni Ademi, addressed the promotion of the OECD report "SME Policy Index for the Western Balkans and Turkiye - Economic Profile for North Macedonia", which was held in Skopje.
In his address, Ademi emphasized that the report represents an important tool for assessing the country's progress in creating policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as an important roadmap for future reform processes.
"Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy. They create the majority of jobs, contribute to economic growth and are key source of innovation and entrepreneurship. Therefore, their development remains one of our highest priorities," Ademi noted.
He pointed out that North Macedonia continues to harmonize SME policies with European standards through the implementation of the National SME Strategy 2025–2030, which focuses on strengthening competitiveness, improving access to finance, and accelerating the green and digital transition.
The State Secretary added that the Government and the Ministry of Economy and Labor are actively working to improve the business climate by reducing administrative barriers, simplifying procedures, and facilitating companies' access to financial resources and new markets.
"We see the SME Policy Index not only as an instrument for measuring results, but as a strategic map for future reforms. Its recommendations help us define priorities, strengthen institutional coordination and create better conditions for the development of domestic companies," Ademi noted.
He added that positive assessments in recent international reports, including the European Commission's Country Progress Report, confirm that reforms in the areas of SME support, innovation, digitalization, and access to finance are yielding concrete results.
At the end of his address, Ademi confirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Economy and Labor to further advance SME policies and build a competitive, innovative and resilient economy, in which small and medium-sized enterprises will remain the main driver of growth, employment and development.
