International cooperation

The association has been active since 2000 and represents the interests of the public-owned financial institutions in relation to EU legislative bodies.

The Berne Union was founded in 1934 with the aim to actively facilitate cross-border trade and investment. The Berne Union members are public and private financial institutions from a number of countries that by supporting exports and foreign investments promote international trade and investments in both developed and developing markets. In this regard, they provide insurance to exporter’s receivables or to their banks against political and commercial risks. The members of the Berne Union support 10% of the total world trade exchange.

The Prague Club was founded on the initiative of the Berne Union and a few other export credit agencies in the early 90s. The members of the Prague Club are credit agencies which by their size, and the volume of support they provide to world trade are smaller in comparison to the support provided by the Berne Union members. The main goal of this association is to provide support to its members in developing their short- and long-term export credit insurance and financing. The Prague Club members hold regular meetings with the aim of exchanging experiences. The Development Bank of North Macedonia has been a member of the Prague Club since 2001.

EIB is a financing institution of the European Union established in 1958 by the Treaty of Rome, participating side by side with local financial institutions in the financing of investment programs and projects that are part of the objectives of the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia.

The EIB’s mission is to help implement the European Union’s policy objectives by financing sound business projects.  Besides encouraging projects in the member countries, one of the main activities is investment financing in the future EU members and the partner countries which has a positive impact on strengthening the European integration process. In that direction is the cooperation between the EIB and DBNM. DBNM intensified its cooperation with EIB on 26 June 2009 when the Finance Contract for SME and Priority Lending (industrial investments in the fields of economy, energy, and environmental protection) in the amount of EUR 100.000.000 was signed. The cooperation continued on 14 October 2011 by signing the contract for the realization of the second phase of this credit line for SME and Priority Projects in the fields of economy, energy, and environmental protection in an amount of EUR 50.000.000. On 10 July 2012, the new contract was signed in the amount of EUR 100.000.000 which marked the beginning of the realization of the third phase of the EIB credit line. Further cooperation resulted in signing the contract of an IV phase on 31 December 2013 in the amount of new EUR 1000.000.000. A new contract for the realization of the fifth phase of the EIB credit line was signed on 11.09.2018 in the amount of EUR 100.000.000. On 21.06.2021 the new EUR 100,000,000 contract was signed for dealing with Covid-19, with which started the implementation of the sixth phase of the EIB credit line. On 24.07.2023 a new agreement was signed with the EIB for lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-market capitalized enterprises (MID-CAP companies) and green transition in the amount of EUR 100.000.000, with which started the implementationtion of the seventh phase of the EIB credit line. 

DBNM extends the EIB credit funds in cooperation with the commercial banks through the existing credit programs, for which more detailed information can be obtained at the commercial bank or directly at DBNM. The Intermediary banks taking part in the EIB credit line disburse credit funds which are by a minimum of 50 bps more favourable than the interest rate that banks would charge from the end beneficiaries without the EIB participation. We believe that the cooperation between DBNM and EIB during the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the EU will directly contribute to keeping the existing jobs and increasing the number of employees, increasing the exports as well as the growth of the Macedonian economy.

The China Development Bank is the world’s largest development financial institution with a registered capital of RMB 421,248 billion or about EUR 54,210 billion and the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financial contracts, long-term lending, and bond issuance. The bank has a large volume of international products.

On November 27, 2017, CDB signed a cooperation agreement with central-eastern European countries establishing the China-CEEC Inter-Bank Association. The association has been represented by its own development, investment, or export banks. The aim of this Agreement is to promote the development of the economy, society, trade, and investment between China and CEEC through cooperation in the financial sector.
Members of this association are the following financial institutions:
1.  China Development Bank
2.  Development Bank of North Macedonia
3.  Bulgarian Development Bank
4.  Czech Export Bank
5.  Hrvatska banka za obnovu i razvitak - HBOR
6.  Export-import bank of the Slovak Republic
7.  Investment and development fund of Montenegro
8.  Latvian development finance institution ALTUM
9.  Lithuanian Public Investment Development Agency - VIPA
10. Hungarian Development Bank
11. Postal Savings Bank, Serbia
12. Slovenska izvozna in razvojna banka - SID
13. EximBank - Romania
14. Investment and Development Bank of the Republika Srpska

The European Union represents a group of states on the territory of Europe. The purpose of the association of these countries is to make things better, easier, and safer for people. Connecting their capabilities, resources, and destinations, they together built a zone of stability, democracy, and sustainable development, while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance, and individual freedom. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values ​​with countries and people beyond its borders.

Program for increasing market employability - IME, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and implemented by the American group Palladium.

IME aims to strengthen the business sector, by creating a favorable climate for three sectors with high-growing potential for development: sustainable agro-business, active tourism, and information and communication technology (ICT).

IME’s activities are aimed at expanding the markets and strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic stakeholders in these three sectors, improving financial performance through improving the quality of products and services, and creating sustainable jobs for highly qualified staff in North Macedonia, especially women and young people.

The IME program is responsible for the creation of 2,706 new jobs. The results that we strive to achieve through the development of the market system are as follows:

- growth and development of companies in selected sectors, through the improvement of products, services, and expansion of markets.
- improved services and improved policy and regulation, thus creating a more stimulating environment for the growth of companies in selected sectors, and
- companies ensuring more attractive and inclusive working conditions for young people and women, as well as their retention in the workplace.

The French Development Agency - AFD (Agence Française de Développement) is a public institution that contributes to the implementation of sustainable policies and programs in the areas of development and international solidarity.

AFD funds, supports, and accelerates the transition to a fairer and more sustainable world. Focusing on climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban development, health, and governance, their teams carry out more than 4,200 projects in France’s overseas departments and territories and another 150 countries. In this way, AFD contributes to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The cooperation of the Development Bank of North Macedonia with the French Development Agency began on 21.12.2023 with the signing of the agreement for the realization of the AFD credit line in the amount of EUR 50 million. The credit line is intended for financing green investments and digitization, as well as supporting female entrepreneurship for domestic companies.