Following Sarajevo and Dubrovnik, the third edition of the regional conference MicroBalkans will take place on 24–25 September in Skopje. The conference is organized by the Group of Non-Banking Financial Companies and savings houses operating as members of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia.

In a conversation with Antoneta Manova-Stavreska, Project Manager at the Chamber, the President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, Branko Azeski, addressed the development of the initiative aimed at establishing regional links between non-banking financial and microfinance organizations.

The initiative began as a regional coalition of working groups from the Western Balkans, alongside participation from Croatia. Today, it has evolved into a broader platform connecting commercial banks, non-banking financial institutions, insurance and leasing providers, the fintech sector, regulatory authorities, and international development finance institutions.

Under the theme "Lending Reimagined," MicroBalkans 2026 will bring together more than 200 participants from over 15 countries. Key discussion points will include the future of lending, digitalization, artificial intelligence, credit scoring, access to capital, and emerging financing mechanisms. Manova-Stavreska emphasized that the conference currently takes a holistic approach to the financial ecosystem, aiming to bridge distinct sectors and create new growth opportunities and avenues for financing throughout the region.

The full interview is available at the link: https://youtube.com/shorts/3RuulwISOr0