Chamber of Commerce President calls for Public Procurement Law reforms

Branko Azeski, President of the Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia, met with business leaders from the regional chambers of Prilep, Bitola, and Kicevo to discuss local economic development. A primary focus of the meeting was the need for amendments to the Public Procurement Law. Proposed changes aim to prioritize quality over the lowest price and to give domestic companies preference over foreign competitors.

The Chamber expressed readiness to support the simplification of administrative procedures and the digitalization of processes to combat corruption and ensure business continuity. Additionally, discussions touched upon potential changes to laws regarding non-working Sundays and public holidays.

From the Prilep Regional Chamber, specific initiatives were proposed, including the reduction or temporary abolition of customs duties on raw materials that lack sufficient domestic production. It was noted that high import duties combined with limited local availability hinder the ability of domestic companies to meet foreign demand, potentially leading to lost export markets and reduced job creation.