The President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, Branko Azeski, participated in the Europe and Asia Summit in Istanbul on the theme "A Collaborative Approach to Climate Action," organized by the World Chambers Federation (WCF) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB).

Debating the role of chambers in fostering global economic transformation and addressing climate change, senior representatives from chambers and business leaders agreed that free and fair trade should take priority over protectionist trends in certain areas. Given that 75% of global trade is governed by WTO rules, which provide stability and predictability, business leaders emphasized that to meet the challenges of the 21^st century, efforts must be made to preserve and improve these rules.

During numerous meetings at the Summit with chamber presidents, Azeski stressed that the ECNM advocates identifying fields of collaboration between science and business in sustainable development and the green economy, aiming to help companies adapt to modern trends, improve competitiveness, and meet the strict standards and criteria of the EU and other markets. Azeski also underscored the importance of the Sofia Declaration for the Western Balkans from 10 November 2020, which obliges the region to implement the green agenda, including carbon emissions reduction, as well as climate, energy, circular economy, pollution, and sustainable food production initiatives.

At this event, Azeski met with Cengiz Günay, President of the Tekirdağ Chamber of Commerce and Industry, setting directions for continued collaboration.

This event was an excellent opportunity to exchange information on the latest developments in climate change and to raise awareness of the practices chambers and the business community are adopting in response to climate risks. These include investment plans, corporate strategies, and social responsibility actions, demonstrating that green transformation is not a distant goal but an opportunity and a challenge for companies. The event highlighted that the time has come for the region’s economies to take a proactive role in the green transition, ensuring economic stability and sustainability.

Dr. Elena Milevska Shtrbevska, President of the Permanent Court of Arbitration attached to the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, represented the Chamber at the first meeting of the Women’s Council of Chambers within the WCF. The Council discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by women in leadership roles within chambers and companies. The shared experiences of women in the business world underscored that gender diversity fosters mutual complementarity, contributing to better success in teams, projects, and plans. Women's strengths—as patient and skilled negotiators, powerful leaders with foresight for risk and timely response in crisis situations, and a natural instinct for team care—were noted as drivers of corporate progress and development.