MIL-OSI United Nations: Consolidating North Macedonia’s institutional framework for circular economy transition

8:30 – 9:00

Registration

9:00 – 9:20

Opening

• H.E. Mr. Kire Ilioski, Ambassador, Director for Multilateral Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, North Macedonia
• Mr. Blerim Zllatku, State Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia
• Ms. Rita Columbia, Resident Coordinator, United Nations Resident Coordination Office, North Macedonia

9:20 – 10:25

North Macedonia’s development landscape: National reforms and future challenges

• Trade Facilitation

Mr. Marjan Tasevski, Director of Sector for Customs System, Customs Administration, North Macedonia

• Environmental sustainability

Ms. Ana Karanfilova Maznevska, Head of Waste Department, Ministry of Environment, North Macedonia

• Energy sustainability

Ms. Valentina Stardelova, Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, North Macedonia

• Quality Infrastructure

Ms. Neriman Xheladini, Head of Department Single Market, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia

• Construction

Mr. Toni Arangelovski, Professor, Civil Engineering Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)

10:25 – 10:40

Unpacking the concept of the circular economy: Principles and business models

• Ms. Hana Daoudi, Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

10:40 – 11:00

Upscaling the textile industry’s circular practices: the role of traceability

• Ms. Claudia Di Bernardino, Lawyer and UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business) project expert, UNECE Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Traceability of Supply Value Chains

11:00 – 11:15

Coffee Break

11:15 – 11:50

Circular stories from North Macedonia’s textiles industry

• Ms. Natasha Sivevska, Executive Director, Textile Trade Association, North Macedonia
• Ms. Evgenija Najdska, Manager, Waste Management, Comfy Angel, North Macedonia
• Ms. Sirma Zheleva, Head of Sustainable Solutions Textile Recovery Solutions, TexCycle, Republic of Bulgaria 

11:50 – 12:10

From farm to fork: Circular innovations in the food industry

• Mr. Shane Ward, Professor Emeritus of Biosystems Engineering, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin

12:10 – 13:00

Circular stories from North Macedonia’s food industry

• Mr. Petar Georgievski, President, Rural Development Network of the North Macedonia
• Mr. Abdulezel Dogani, Chief Executive Officer, Vezë Sharri, North Macedonia
• Mr. Jana Klopcevska, Associate Professor, Department of Food and Biotechnology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)
• Mr. Ismail Ferati, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Tetova, North Macedonia
• Ms. Irena Djimrevska, Advisor and Project Coordinator, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

13.00 – 13.20

Questions and answers

13:20 – 14:20

Lunch Break

14:20 – 14:40

Closing the loop: Best practices in waste management for circularity

• Mr. Gergely Hankó, Managing Director, Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises (HAEE)

14:40 – 15:40

Circular stories from North Macedonia’s waste treatment industry

• Mr. Filip Ivanov, Deputy President, Macedonian Solid Waste Association
• Mr. Filip Ivanovski, Managing Director, Pakomak, North Macedonia
• Mr. Ljubomir Pejovski, Environment Manager, Makstil AD, North Macedonia
• Mr. Vlado Momirovski, Manager, Ekocentar 97, North Macedonia 
• Ms. Angelina Taneva-Veshoska, Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy (IEGE)
• Ms. Tamara Todorovska, Deputy Chief of Party/ Public-Private Dialogue Lead, USAID Partnerships for Economic Growth, North Macedonia

15:40 – 15:55

Questions and answers

15:55 – 16:25

Researching circularity: academic perspectives on the transition

• Mr. Dejan Mirakovski, Rector, Goce Delcev University of Štip, North Macedonia
• Ms. Emilija Fidanchevski, Full Professor, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)
• Ms. Aleksandra Martinovska Stojcheska, Full Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM)

16:25 – 16:40

Coffee Break

16:40 – 17:30

Supporting circular economy practices among enterprises: the experience of North Macedonia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• Ms. Daniela Mihajlovska, Manager, Centre for Circular Economy, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
• Mr. Edvard Sofevski, President, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, North Macedonia
• Ms. Elena Miloshevska Jovanovska, Country Representative, Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO), North Macedonia
• Mr. Goran Damovski, Team Leader, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Increasing Market Employability (IME) Program, North Macedonia
• Ms. Irina Janevska, President, Organization for Social Innovation (ARNO), North Macedonia

17:30 – 17:45

Financing the circular transition

• Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia

17:45 – 18.00

Questions and answers

18:00 – 18:15

Closing remarks: Mapping future cooperation with UNECE

• Mr. Blerim Zllatku, State Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia
• Mr. Ariel Ivanier, Chief, Market Access Section, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE