Embassy of India

Sofia, Bulgaria
Concurrently accredited to Republic of North Macedonia

Embassy of India
Sofia
***

India – North Macedonia: Partners in growth 

1. India and North Macedonia share growing friendly relations and cooperation based on historical links, shared values of democracy, and respect for pluralism. The two countries share links to Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje. India was one of the 40 co-sponsors of the Resolution in the UNGA for the admission of the Republic of Macedonia under the name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [FYROM] in April 1993. India established diplomatic and consular relations with FYROM on February 9, 1995. The Indian Embassy in Bulgaria is concurrently accredited to the Republic of North Macedonia as the country is known since February 2019 following resolution of the name dispute with Greece.  North Macedonia has an Embassy in New Delhi since 2008 and Honorary Consuls in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. 

High level / Ministerial Visits

2. India and North Macedonia have maintained regular high-level contact at political level. Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi visited North Macedonia from 10-11 July 2023. During her visit she had bilateral meetings with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Fatmire Isaki and Deputy Minister of Culture Mr. Daim Luci. She also called on Mr. Talat Xhaferi (TX), President of the National Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Mr. Bujar Osmani visited India from 31 August to 1 September, 2023. During the visit, he called on the Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and had bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar and Deputy NSA Shri Vikram Misri. 

3. Earlier, Macedonian Prime minister Nikola Gruevski accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and the Minister for Foreign Investments visited India in January 2015 and participated in Vibrant Gujarat-2015 and CII-Partnership Summit. President of the National Assembly of Macedonia Trajko Veljanoski led a Parliamentary delegation on an official visit to India in March 2013.   Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki visited New Delhi and Agra in December 2013. and met the External Affairs Minister. 

Important Bilateral Treaties and Agreements 

4. Significant agreements and memoranda of Understanding signed between the two countries are as under: 

(a)   Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (March 2008); 

(b) Agreement on Mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of Diplomatic passports (January 2009); 

(c)   Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation (December 2013);  and

(d)   MoU on Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Service Institute of Ministry of External Affairs (December 2013).

Commercial and Economic Relations 

5. The bilateral trade between India and North Macedonia has been steadily growing.

(Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India)

6. Main items of Indian exports to North Macedonia are:  Organic Chemicals, Iron and Steel, Textiles and Fabrics; Electrical machinery, Scientific &Medical Instruments, Mechanical machinery; Ceramic, agricultural & forestry tractors; Auto parts, Pharmaceuticals pneumatic elevators & conveyors etc.

7. Main items of North Macedonian exports to India are: ferro-alloys, marble and travertine, electrical machinery & equipment, and plastics. Machinery, Ships and Boats, Iron and Steel, Mineral Fuels, Electrical machinery, Auto accessories.

8. India offers opportunities for professionals from North Macedonia to participate in training courses at the leading Indian institutions under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and several of them have participated in such programmes over the years.

Cultural Relations and people to people contacts

9. Yoga and Indian culture are popular in North Macedonia. The International Yoga Day is regularly celebrated in North Macedonia in association with the Yoga Surya, Art of Living, ISKON, and other yoga centres. Tourism is an area which holds prospects for both the countries.  

Indian Community  

10. The Indian community in North Macedonia is very small. As per our records, there are 50 Indians, some of them engaged in the IT sector, or working as executives in multinational companies. There are very few Indian students in North Macedonia.

August 2024