Macedonian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food, Ljupco Nikolovski discussed several topics of mutual interest with his Slovenian counterpart, Irena Šinko. Two day visit emphasized a strong friendship and practical cooperation between Slovenia and North Macedonia, especially in the agricultural and rural development sectors.
During the discussions, the two ministers focused on forestry, with Slovenia sharing its forest management practices and discussing the necessary legal frameworks for effective forest management. They also discussed the challenges faced by young people in rural areas in both countries, including the need to attract and engage young people in agricultural activities to strengthen self-sufficiency.
The Slovenian Rural Youth Association was highlighted as an initiative that collaborates with the ministry on legislative proposals and activities aimed at transferring knowledge to young people in rural areas.
The Macedonian delegation was interested in learning from Slovenia's agricultural success stories, particularly those involving young people on farms. They also wanted to understand the cooperative system and how Slovenia promotes the development of small wineries.
Cooperatives and the cooperative system in Slovenia were also discussed. Minister Šinko mentioned that the existing cooperative law, adopted in 1992, requires an overhaul. The two countries agreed to hold a consultation in the autumn on various topics, including agricultural land management, land policy, cooperatives, and young people in agriculture.
North Macedonia, as an EU candidate country, appreciates Slovenia's support in enhancing its capacity to access EU funds, particularly through the IPARD pre-accession assistance program for rural development.Minister Nikolovski expressed gratitude for Slovenia's assistance and highlighted the strong cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including agriculture. Lastly, an action plan for cooperation and exchange of experience was adopted, with a focus on forestry, where Slovenia's expertise is considered valuable for North Macedonia's green transition efforts.
Source: https://www.sloveniabusiness.eu/business-news/slovenia-and-n-macedonia-explore-cooperation-in-forestry-rural-development-agriculture
