Zhabeni Industrial Zone joins Western Balkans-EU partnership

Bitola Mayor Toni Konjanovski signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Budva, Montenegro, establishing a partnership between Western Balkan industrial parks and the European Union. The Zhabeni Industrial Zone in Bitola is the only entity from North Macedonia to sign this cooperation agreement.

Part of the 2026 Berlin Process under Montenegro's presidency, the initiative aims to foster business connections between Western Balkan industrial zones and those within EU member states. The partnership focuses on supporting the transfer of environmentally sustainable practices and strengthening regional economic integration. This move aligns with the Action Plan for the Common Regional Market (2025–2028), intended to improve competitiveness and harmonize regional standards with EU regulations to facilitate deeper integration into the EU single market.