NEWS: 2nd Green Business Excellence High-Level Event: Green SMEs for a Competitive, Resilient and Sustainable Economy

On 17 September 2025, the Green Business Excellence High-Level Event took place in Skopje under the title “Green SMEs for a competitive, resilient and more sustainable economy”. The event gathered representatives of ministries, agencies, academia, and the business sector to discuss the future of SMEs in the context of green and digital transition.

The opening session featured contributions from high-level representatives, including:

  • Mr. Jumni Ademi, Ministry of Economy and Labour (TBC)
  • Mr. Ivan Delchev, IPA ADRION Joint Secretariat
  • Ms. Annamaria Annicchiarico, Tecnopolis PST, GREENSMES Coordinator
  • Ms. Irena Gjorgievska, INOVA Agency for Innovation Activity, Scientific and Technological Development and Entrepreneurship
  • Mr. Betim Lamallari, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning
  • Ms. Valentina Stardelova, Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources

Speakers highlighted the importance of SME development policies and the role of the green transition in creating a more sustainable and competitive regional economy.

 

National SME Strategy 2025–2030

A dedicated session was focused on the National SME Strategy 2025–2030, developed with support from the EU4SME Development Project. Mr. Grigorios Kontzoglou and Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj presented the Strategy and Action Plan, emphasising:

  • Opportunities and challenges of the green transition,
  • Measures to strengthen SME capacities for green and digital transformation,
  • Links to EU best practices for sustainable entrepreneurship.

 

Capacity-Building & Knowledge Exchange

The event also featured a capacity-building workshop led by Mr. Giancarlo La Pietra, an experienced trainer, project manager, and innovation strategist. His interactive session focused on:

  • CreActionality – a methodology to transform ideas into impactful, goal-driven solutions,
  • Building synergies between GREENSMES participants and the National SME Strategy Working Group,
  • Practical tools for applying design thinking and innovation methods in SME development.

Strengthening the SME Ecosystem

The High-Level Event highlighted how strategic collaboration between policy-makers, SMEs, academia, and innovators can accelerate the green transition. By combining national strategies with practical tools and training, the event reinforced the mission of GREENSMES: to empower small and medium enterprises to become more competitive, resilient, and sustainable.