India–North Macedonia relations

India–North Macedonia relations refers to the bilateral relations that exist between the Republic of India and the Republic of North Macedonia.

India–North Macedonia relations

India	North Macedonia

History

India co-sponsored the United Nations General Assembly Resolution to admit North Macedonia to the United Nations. Diplomatic and consular relations between India and Republic of Macedonia were established on 9 February 1995. Republic of Macedonia appointed an Indian businessman in New Delhi to serve as Republic of Macedonia's Honorary Consul in 2006. The Embassy of Republic of Macedonia in New Delhi was opened on 7 October 2008. The Embassy was registered under the country's former constitutional name of Republic of Macedonia, rather than its United Nations reference, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. India had officially referred to the country as the Republic of Macedonia, despite objection from Greece, before the Prespa agreement.[1][2] North Macedonia appointed an Honorary Consul in Kolkata in 2009, and subsequently appointed Honorary Consuls in Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore. India appointed an Honorary Consul in Republic of Macedonia in 2008. The Embassy of India in Sofia, Bulgaria is jointly accredited to Republic of Macedonia.[3]

Foreign Minister of Republic of Macedonia Antonio Milososki visited India in January 2009, becoming the first government official of Republic of Macedonia to visit the country.[4] Prime Minister of Republic of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and several other ministers, visited India in March 2012 becoming the first Prime Minister of Republic of Macedonia to visit the country.[3][5] Stavreski, and several other ministers, visited the country again in October 2012. Gruevski, Stavreski and other ministers visited the country again in January 2015 to attend the Vibrant Gujarat and CII-Partnership Summits. National Assembly President Trajko Veljanoski led a parliamentary delegation on a visit to India in March 2013. Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Nikola Poposki visited New Delhi and Agra in December 2013.[3] The two countries signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement[6] and an MoU on Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and the Foreign Service Institute during the visit on 17 December.[3]

From India, the highest level visits to North Macedonia have been at the level of minister of state. Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, and a CII business delegation, visited North Macedonia on 10–11 July 2012 becoming the first Indian minister to visit the country. Kaur met with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zoran Stavrevski, and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy Antonio Milososki.[3]

Citizens of North Macedonia are eligible for scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Several diplomats from North Macedonia have also attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) programme run by the Foreign Service Institute.[3]

Trade

Bilateral trade between India and North Macedonia totaled US$62.24 million in 2015, a slight decline from $68.36 million in 2014. India exported $48.41 million worth of goods to North Macedonia, and imported $13.83 million. The main commodities exported by India to North Macedonia are gas oils of petroleum or bituminous minerals, agricultural and forestry tractors, partly or wholly stemmed pre-stripped flue-cured tobacco, coffee, sesamum seeds, single cotton yarn of combed fibres, medicaments, plates, sheets, film, foil and strip of non-cellular polymers of propylene, and pneumatic elevators and conveyors. The major commodities imported by India from North Macedonia are ferro-alloys, marble, travertine, electrical machinery and equipment, and plastics.[3]

India and North Macedonia signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement on 17 March 2008.[3]

Arcelor Mittal acquired a 90% stake in Balkan Steel in 2004. In September 2011, Mumbai-based fabric trader and garment manufacturer Bang Overseas Limited founded Bang & Scott DOO (North Macedonia), a wholly owned subsidiary of North Macedonia. Indian metal products manufacturer BRG Group signed an agreement with the Government of North Macedonia on 12 January 2016 to invest EUR31 million in the country. The factory in Porcelanka will employ 1,000 people and manufacture steel kitchenware for export.[3] In December 2016, Indian cable manufacturer for the automotive industry Malhotra Cables announced that it would invest $10 million to establish a manufacturing plant in Skopje.[7]

Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy visited North Macedonia in January, July and October 2013. He met with Prime Minister and announced plans to EUR invest 2.7 billion in the country. Despite allegations of fraud and debt against Sahara in India, the Government of North Macedonia portrayed Roy domestically as a businessman who wanted to help the poor Macedonians because "Mother Teresa helped a lot of poor people in India." His arrest in India in March 2014 was met with shock in North Macedonia.[8]

Cultural relations

Alexander the Great, the king of Macedon, began a campaign to conquer India in 326 BC, after conquering the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. He fought a notable battle against Porus of the Paurava kingdom on the banks of the Jhelum river. Mother Teresa, who became an Indian citizen in 1951, was born in Skopje (in present-day North Macedonia) in 1910.[9]

As of December 2016, there are 10 Indian citizens and people of Indian origin in North Macedonia. They hold senior managerial positions in ArcelorMittal Steel, or work in IT and other sectors.[3]

See also

• Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement

References

1. "MINA Breaking News - Macedonia & India deepen relations". macedoniaonline.eu. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
2. "India Recognises 'Republic of Macedonia'". Balkan Insight. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
3. "India- Macedonia Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs. December 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
4. Manchevska, Dijana. "India Recognizes Macedonia by Constitutional Name; Deepens Ties". www.umdiaspora.org. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
5. "There's great potential for strengthened economic and political cooperation between Macedonia and India". Влада на Република Македонија. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
6. "India and the Government of Republic of Macedonia Signed an Agreement for The Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
7. "India's Malhotra Cables to build $10 mln manufacturing plant in Macedonia - SeeNews - Business intelligence for Southeast Europe". seenews.com. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
8. "Macedonia believed Sahara chief was India's return gift for Mother Teresa". The Indian Express. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
9. "Mother Teresa's heritage contested by Balkan countries". The Indian Express. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.