Under the Program of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the 2006-2010 period, for the first time economic diplomacy has become an integral part of the regular activities of the Macedonian diplomatic and consular missions abroad. In 2008, the Economic Diplomacy Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was actively involved in the implementation of the Government economic program, thus strengthening the economic dimension of diplomacy. In this respect, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has created a unique institutional structure, which reflects the dedication to this goal, as part of which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continuously maintained its significant role in the improvement and coordination of foreign economic policy and foreign economic activities. The primary goal to be achieved through the implementation of the economic program of the Government is economic growth, which would ensure better standard of living of all citizens of Macedonia, a reduction in the unemployment rate and poverty, as well as improvement of the business climate. The implementation of that program is a top priority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Working to achieve these goals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking comprehensive measures in order to attract foreign direct investments, as well as to increase the exports volume to other countries. At the same time, the Ministry is actively pursuing the tasks and conclusions entrusted and adopted respectively by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia arising from the everyday activities in the field of economy.

The promotion of economic interests and priorities abroad is one of the most important operative tasks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of these activities is to present the Republic of Macedonia as an attractive destination for foreign investments, through the promotion of business advantages, giving impetus to Macedonian exports, as well as through strengthening of the country’s position as a reliable business partner. 

In this context, in cooperation with the Agency for Foreign Investments (AFI), economic promoters have been designated in order to reinforce the capacity of the country’s economic diplomacy in terms of implementing the activities projected under the Program of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. Furthermore, for the purpose of improving the perception of our country and highlighting its beauties, its identity, its culture etc., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the diplomatic and consular missions promotes the Republic of Macedonia as a brand, which would make our country more recognizable in the world.

The successful implementation of the program activity in the economic diplomacy area depends essentially on the joint implementation and coordination of activities between diplomatic and consular missions on one hand, and the economic promoters designated by the Agency for Foreign Investments, on the other. 

Based on the previous experiences related to the fulfillment of the obligation assumed by the heads of the diplomatic and consular missions for visiting 10 companies a month, the Economic Diplomacy Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made an assessment that it is necessary to incorporate certain qualitative elements to this criterion, as well. The first step taken in this respect was the classifying of foreign countries according to their economic parameters and the level of interest that they have thus far shown in cooperating with the Republic of Macedonia. As a result, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia adopted a conclusion obliging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a new instruction to all diplomatic and consular missions to annually conduct 100 or 80 meetings respectively, according to the adopted criteria.

As of 2008, acting through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has been issuing instructions to the embassies and consular missions requiring them to send detailed information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the announcements of tenders in their host countries every day. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs instantly electronically distributes this information to the companies in the Republic of Macedonia which are interested in participating in a tender in other countries. Thus, there are opportunities opened to these companies to expand their business activities outside the borders of the Republic of Macedonia.

In the course of extending the hitherto cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the USAID, 500 English language copies of the 2008 Report on the Foreign Trade of the Republic of Macedonia have been provided. The report has been distributed to the Macedonian diplomatic and consular missions abroad, considering that the report is a material that could be found useful in the presentation of the investment opportunities that the Republic of Macedonia offers to foreign partners.

Furthermore, the Ministry coordinates the activities for preparation and organization of Business Forums abroad. The organizing of the recent Business Forum in the USA (Chicago and California) has proven to be a successfully performed activity in which, apart from the promotion of the Republic of Macedonia as a favorable destination for foreign investments, Macedonian IT companies have also been presented in the Silicone Valley in California. The economy related activities of the Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski during his official visit to the Republic of Slovenia in January, 2009 have been successful, as well.

There are preparations under way for the economy related part of the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Milošoski with the Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Macedonia abroad, to be held in Skopje, on 28-30 April, 2009.