President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu today held bilateral talks with President of North Macedonia H.E. Dr. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the Balkan nation.
President Murmu, who arrived in Skopje today as part of her State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Villa Vodno, the official residence and office of the President of North Macedonia. She was received by North Macedonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Mr. Timcho Mucunski, upon her arrival at Skopje International Airport.
During the one-to-one meeting and delegation-level discussions, the two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of India-North Macedonia relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties based on democratic values, mutual respect and cooperation.
Highlighting the importance of economic engagement, President Murmu said economic cooperation remains a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. She called for greater collaboration in sectors such as information technology, IT-enabled services, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, biotechnology, tourism, hospitality and filmmaking.
The President also underlined the significance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, describing creative industries as an important area for expanding cooperation between the two countries.
President Murmu welcomed North Macedonia’s interest in joining India-led global initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and Global Biofuels Alliance. She said participation in these platforms would help North Macedonia access global expertise and best practices in renewable energy and disaster resilience.
As part of efforts to deepen cooperation, President Murmu announced India’s decision to double the number of ITEC training slots for North Macedonia, including new opportunities in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence.
Both leaders expressed confidence that the historic visit would further strengthen the multifaceted India-North Macedonia partnership and open new avenues of cooperation in the years ahead.
