Macedonia2025 at the 24th International Youth Conference in Kruševo: Building a Future Worth Staying For

Macedonia2025 participated in the 24th International Youth Conference “European Values for the Future of SEE Countries” in Kruševo, contributing to an important regional discussion on how to create stronger opportunities for young people to build their futures in Southeast Europe.

Our Chief Economist, Misho Nikolov, took part as a speaker and expert evaluator in the Future Forward Session “Futures Worth Staying For – Reimagining work and opportunity in the region through social innovation, entrepreneurship and regional resilience.”

At the heart of the discussion was a question that is becoming increasingly important for economies across the region:

What would make young people choose to build their future here?

The answer extends far beyond employment figures. Young people need quality jobs where they can learn and progress, fair systems that reward talent and effort, access to mentors and professional networks, opportunities to transform ideas into sustainable businesses, and the economic security to build an independent life in their home countries.

The session also placed young people themselves at the center of the conversation. Participants presented business and social innovation ideas addressing real challenges in their communities. Together with other experts, Nikolov evaluated the pitches and discussed the conditions needed to move promising ideas from concept to implementation and long-term impact.

One message emerged particularly strongly:

Young people do not need to lower their ambitions. They need ecosystems where their ambitions can grow.

From talent to opportunity

For Macedonia2025, retaining and empowering young talent requires more than identifying potential. It means creating meaningful connections between education, skills, mentorship, entrepreneurship, capital, markets and professional networks.

This approach is already embedded across Macedonia2025’s programs.

Through the Atanas Bliznakoff Scholarship Program, talented students receive financial support alongside opportunities for personal and professional development. Our “Talent Today – Leaders Tomorrow” program supports exceptional high-school students at an important stage of their educational journey.

Through Connect2MK and our mentorship initiatives, young people and professionals can connect with experienced mentors and members of Macedonia’s global community, gaining knowledge, guidance and access to networks that can accelerate their development.

Our entrepreneurship, leadership and educational initiatives similarly aim to help people move from potential to capability, and from ideas to opportunity.

Because the decision to stay, return or build a future in the region is influenced not by one intervention, but by the strength of the entire ecosystem around a young person.

Creating a region where ambition can grow

The International Youth Conference in Kruševo demonstrated why young people must not only be discussed as part of the region’s future, but actively involved in shaping it.

Creating a future worth staying for requires institutions, businesses, civil society, educators, investors and communities to work together to create environments where talented young people can see a realistic path toward professional growth, entrepreneurship and an independent life.

We thank the organizers of the 24th International Youth Conference for creating a platform where young voices, ideas and ambitions were placed at the center of the conversation.

The future worth staying for is not something we wait for. It is something we build together.