The Minister of Digital Transformation, Stefan Andonovski, participated in the economic forum BELTALKS 2026, organized by GLOBSEC, which is taking place yesterday and today in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia.
As part of the forum, Minister Andonovski spoke at the panel discussion titled "Building an Economy Based on Artificial Intelligence: Data, Infrastructure, and Competitiveness."
"We are discussing the future of the region from an economic perspective, and I am presenting investment opportunities in Macedonia within the fields of new technologies and artificial intelligence. We have made a strong start, as Macedonia recorded GDP growth of 3.7 percent in the first half of 2026 and 4.3 percent in the second quarter, amidst low inflation. This growth is driven by investments in the ICT industry and technology," stated Andonovski.
"That is why we are here—to open up new opportunities for investment in data centres, the application of artificial intelligence, and the development of technology companies, as well as to attract as many companies, diverse capital, and new expertise to Macedonia as possible," the Minister added.
The panel also featured the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić; the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež; and the President of the Executive Board of Yettel Bank, Aleksandar Bogdanović.
The discussion focused on opportunities for the Western Balkans to position itself as a hub for innovation, data centres, and new technologies, as well as on the importance of digital infrastructure, energy capacities, human capital, and a favourable business environment for attracting high-tech investments.
During the forum, Minister Andonovski also gave a statement for the audience of Macedonian Radio-Television, in which he reflected on the contribution of the ICT industry to economic growth and the opportunities for new investments in Macedonia.
Later in the forum, Minister Andonovski will participate in a closed-door roundtable titled "One Region, One Market? Trade, Labor, Investment, and the Future of Regional Integration."
BELTALKS 2026 was opened by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Đuro Macut, while the closing address is scheduled to be delivered by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. The forum brought together high-ranking political officials, decision-makers, and representatives of the business community from the region and Europe.
