President Murmu Deepens India-North Macedonia Ties

Synopsis: President Droupadi Murmu and North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova hold bilateral talks in Skopje, agreeing to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, information technology, education, healthcare, culture, and people-to-people exchanges during the first-ever visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia.

President Droupadi Murmu held wide-ranging bilateral talks with North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova in Skopje, with both leaders agreeing to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, technology, education, healthcare, and cultural exchanges. The meeting marked the first-ever State Visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia, underscoring both countries' commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic relations while expanding engagement with Eastern Europe.

During the delegation-level discussions, the two Presidents reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and explored opportunities to enhance collaboration in sectors with strong growth potential. They emphasised the need to increase trade and investment flows by encouraging greater interaction between businesses, promoting commercial partnerships, and facilitating market access. Both sides also recognised the importance of expanding cooperation in information technology, digital innovation, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, and education.

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President Murmu highlighted India's rapid economic growth, expanding digital economy, and manufacturing capabilities, inviting North Macedonian companies to participate in India's development journey. She underlined the opportunities created by initiatives such as Digital India, Make in India, and Startup India, while encouraging closer collaboration in innovation, research, and emerging technologies. The discussions also explored possibilities for cooperation between academic institutions, research organisations, and innovation ecosystems in both countries.

The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties through greater cultural, educational, and academic exchanges. They acknowledged the historical connection between the two countries through Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje and became an Indian citizen, describing this shared heritage as an important foundation for expanding bilateral relations. Both sides also agreed to promote cultural diplomacy and tourism to enhance mutual understanding between their peoples.

The visit forms part of President Murmu's three-nation tour of Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania aimed at expanding India's engagement with Eastern Europe. The North Macedonia visit reflects India's broader strategy of strengthening partnerships with European countries in areas such as trade, technology, innovation, and sustainable development. Officials from both countries expressed confidence that closer political dialogue and institutional cooperation would create new opportunities for long-term collaboration across multiple sectors.

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The talks concluded with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to maintaining regular high-level exchanges and enhancing cooperation through government, business, and academic partnerships. As the first visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia, the engagement is expected to open new avenues for bilateral collaboration and contribute to stronger economic, technological, and cultural ties between the two countries.