President Murmu Makes Historic First Visit by Indian Head of State to North Macedonia

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Skopje on Tuesday, beginning a two-day state visit to North Macedonia as part of a three-nation European tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. She is the first Indian President to visit the country.

During the second leg of her tour, President Murmu will hold bilateral talks with her counterpart, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. She is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Speaker of the Assembly Afrim Gashi, and address the Parliament. Additionally, she will address the India-North Macedonia Business Forum, highlighting the potential for deeper economic cooperation.

Both sides have expressed interest in expanding ties in priority sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, information technology, and IT-enabled services. The visit underscores India's commitment to engaging with Eastern Europe.

President Murmu will also visit the Memorial of Mother Teresa, who was born in Skopje in 1910 and later became a symbol of humanitarian service in India. The memorial, built in 2009, stands on the site where she was baptised. Mother Teresa was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1980.

North Macedonia, a landlocked country in southeastern Europe, shares borders with Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Serbia. The Indian community in North Macedonia is small, with most members working in IT, academia, or multinational companies.

The final leg of President Murmu's tour will take her to Romania from July 23 to 25, marking the first visit by an Indian President to that country in over three decades. The tour reflects India's focus on strengthening ties with Eastern Europe, with particular emphasis on the '3Ts'—trade, technology, and tourism, as noted by Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George.