Today, at the Heidelberg Faculty of Skopje, the event "Christmas Talks with Heidelberg & AHK" took place on the topic Challenges of the economy in 2024. For the fourth year in a row, prominent economists, bankers and international financial and business experts discussed in order to promote proposals and ideas to the public actors of economic policies in the Macedonian economy.

Antje Wandelt, director of the Delegation of the German economy in North Macedonia, and prof. Dr. Sinisha Naumoski, representative of the Board of Directors of Heidelberg Skopje Business School and member of the Council at NBRM.

The president of the Management Board of Sparkase Bank AD Skopje, Mr. Sanel Kusturica, from the position of an expert, together with prof. Dr. Gligor Bishev, President of the Fiscal Council, and Dr. Zlatko Mutsunski, General Director of "Porsche Macedonia", and Professor Vancho Uzunov, and under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Sinisha Naumoski.

"Despite positive signals of global recovery reflected by expectations for a significant increase in estimated GDP growth and a decrease in inflation (at the EU level) as our most important trading partner for next year, the global economic environment in 2024 is likely to remain uncertain and full of challenges, therefore adaptability, focus, discipline and readiness of the key creators of economic policies, the private sector and all stakeholders are necessary" - said Mr. Kusturica, while emphasizing that the still present high level of inflation, imposes implementation tighter monetary policy and careful application of fiscal policy. "Macroeconomic challenges certainly dictate the challenges that business will face in the next year, which will be full of risks and uncertainties and not at all easy for business. In addition to the challenges that our companies face, which are externally determined and are related to the economic trends of our most important trade partners, the biggest challenge facing the companies, currently and in the foreseeable future, is related to employees. The visible trends of the departure of employees from the state, as a result above all of the absence of prospects, has a significant impact on the future prospects of companies. The acceleration of the European integration processes of the state is the only perspective that can create the necessary balance in this sense" - emphasized the first person of Sparkase Bank AD Skopje.

He reminded that 2024 will be an election year, both globally in the key developed economies, the USA, Great Britain, the European Parliament, as well as in our country, which in itself brings an increase in uncertainties surrounding the further discourse of the main policy makers. About Sparkase Bank's business policy in 2024, Mr. Kusturica expects an ambitious and optimistic growth of 10% in lending to companies regardless of all macroeconomic indicators that were revised in a more pessimistic plan. "Following all current geopolitical and economic developments, trends and cycles, one of the key priorities will be financial support for green and digital transition of companies. As for the level of interest rates, we expect them to decrease compared to the existing level, but still in line with the movement of inflation, the level of interest rates will not yet return to the pre-inflationary level" - said the president of the Board of Directors of Sparkasse Bank AD Skopje.

In his presentation, he emphasized the importance and challenges related to "ESG", emphasizing that "companies must understand as soon as possible that the trends in this sense are unstoppable, which creates the need for immediate building of the necessary internal capacities, as a prerequisite for performance in certain markets, above all the European ones, where compliance with these standards is imperative".

Kusturica indicated that the team of the bank he manages already has an excellent plan for raising banking services to a very high digital level and simplifying operations through significant investments in advanced and automated systems and the inclusion of robots. At the same time as this process, it is inevitable to invest in your employees, for whom, with the change of the banking service, the necessary skills for successful functioning will change structurally.

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