The second edition of the AmCham digitalization conference took place on November 14th, 2024, under the theme “Business and Government: Aligning for a Secure Digital Future.” The event brought together around 200 business leaders, government officials, and international experts to collaborate on creating a secure and prosperous digital future that drives economic growth.
With over 20 speakers and panelists, the conference served as a dynamic platform to exchange ideas and best practices for the efficient and secure digitalization of public services, highlighting the essential roles of business and government in ensuring a smooth digital transformation.
In their opening addresses, Mr. Stefan Andonovski, Minister of Digital Transformation, H.E. Nicole Varnes, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission to North Macedonia, and Ivan Novakovski, Vice President of the AmCham Board of Directors, emphasized the critical need for joint efforts to achieve sustainable and secure digital transformation cornerstone for economic progress and global competitiveness.
Mr.Troy Stovall, CEO of TEDCO from Maryland, USA, delivered the keynote address, “Governing for Tomorrow: Leading Digital Transformation for Economic Growth.” Mr. Stovall shared insights on how proactive governance fosters economic growth, job creation, and a thriving digital society. He highlighted entrepreneurship and market-driven innovation as key drivers of digital transformation. Mr. Stovall also discussed opportunities for North Macedonia, such as integrating cyber technologies with agriculture to unlock new potential.
At the CEOs roundtable that followed, industry leaders outlined their priorities for state-led digital transformation. Moderated by Ms. Meri Kucera Ilievska, Chair of the AmCham Digital Transformation Committee, the session featured insights from Mr. Konstantinos Nikolaou from TITAN Cementarnica Usje, Mr. Andrej Petreski from Cisco, Mr. Dalibor Frtunik from Sorsix, and Ms. Magda Janu from Palo Alto Networks.
The panel “Efficient and Service-Oriented Public E-Services” explored the expansion and improvement of public e-services for citizens and businesses. Moderated by Mr. Blagoj Hristov, Member of the Digital Transformation Committee, the panel included Mr. Miroslav Grozdanovski from the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Ms. Marie-Madeleine Kanelopoulou from the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, Ms. Iskra Belcheva Ristovska from the Center for Change Management, and Mr. Sasho Jakovchevski from the State Audit Office.
Cybersecurity took center stage in a presentation by Mr. Aleksandar Pavlovic from Cisco, titled “Transformative Tools: If Connected, It’s Protected.” Pavlovic underscored the need for robust cybersecurity to protect interconnected systems, bolster resilience, and build user trust.
Mr. Boris Koprivnikar, CEO of Singular Consulting (Slovenia), and Ms. Filomena Pljakovska Asprovska, a Digital Transformation committee member, discussed how effective regulatory frameworks can create a digital environment that benefits businesses, institutions, and citizens.
Ms. Eva Sniecovska and Ms. Maja Blazetic, representatives of Palo Alto Networks delved into emerging cybersecurity strategies, stressing the importance of proactive collaboration to enhance prevention, detection, and response to cyber threats.
The final session, “No Business Left Behind” highlighted practical solutions for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in their digitalization efforts. Moderated by Ms. Elena Bundaleska, the discussion featured Mr. Goce Pešev from the USAID Partnership for Economic Growth Activity, Mr. Dimitar Janevski from Inbox, and Ms. Ana Tashevska-Setinovska from ProCredit Bank. The panelists discussed essential factors driving company digitalization, with a particular emphasis on practical solutions and best practices. By spotlighting successful examples, this panel illustrated how businesses across various sizes and industries can effectively adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The conference reaffirmed AmCham North Macedonia’s dedication to strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve a secure and inclusive digital future.
