PAST EVENTS
Increasing Cooperation Between
Local & Foreign Companies in
Macedonia
This June, AmCham gathered representatives from
the locally- and foreign-owned businesses operating in the country, to help reduce perceived barriers
between the two groups. In the lead up to the country’s recent parliamentary elections, plenty of media
attention was given to the impact FDI is having on
the local economy, with many claiming that foreign
companies largely operate as islands, without significant engagement in the local economy. Toward
debunking this myth, we invited procurement professionals from just three major foreign investors:
Johnson Matthey, EVN Macedonia and Van Hool to
tell potential local partners what they are already
procuring locally as well as what they’d like to buy locally in the future. The session also included practical
advice on how interested and qualified local suppliers
Emerging Macedonia Summer 2014 Issue 42
should approach these companies and what they
should expect in terms of procurement procedures.
All presenters recognized the work of a number of
local suppliers who successfully transformed their
businesses to meet the internationally-accepted
standards required by their procurement policies.
They also cited examples where they had recommended local suppliers to other affiliates, resulting
in significant new export business. However, they
also mentioned that many interested local suppliers
do not manage to complete the standards complian