President Murmu Holds Talks with North Macedonia President
First-ever visit by an Indian President focuses on trade, technology, renewable energy and people-to-people cooperation
- President Droupadi Murmu holds bilateral talks with North Macedonia President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.
- India announces doubling of ITEC training slots, including AI courses.
- Both sides identify trade, IT, pharmaceuticals and tourism as priority sectors.
- North Macedonia expresses interest in joining India’s global climate initiatives.
GG News Bureau
SKOPJE, July 21: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday held bilateral talks with her North Macedonian counterpart Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, with both leaders agreeing to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, renewable energy and cultural exchanges during the first-ever visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia.
Murmu, who arrived in Skopje on Monday on the second leg of her three-nation State visit covering Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, received a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at Villa Vodno, the official residence of the President of North Macedonia.
During one-to-one and delegation-level talks, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global developments. They reaffirmed the strong partnership between the two countries, founded on shared democratic values and mutual respect.
Highlighting economic engagement as a key pillar of bilateral ties, Murmu identified IT and IT-enabled services, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, biotechnology, tourism, hospitality and filmmaking as sectors with significant potential for collaboration.
The President also emphasised the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, noting that cooperation in the creative industries can further strengthen ties between the two nations.
Murmu said India remains committed to promoting global cooperation through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuels Alliance. She welcomed North Macedonia’s intention to join these initiatives, saying they would help the country benefit from global expertise in renewable energy and disaster resilience.
In a significant announcement, the President said India will double the number of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training slots for North Macedonia, including specialised courses in Artificial Intelligence.
Both leaders expressed confidence that the visit would further deepen the multifaceted partnership between India and North Macedonia and open new avenues for cooperation in the years ahead.
President Murmu is accompanied on the visit by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, and Members of Parliament Dr. Dinesh Sharma and Vijay Baghel.
