

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green visited the Republic of North Macedonia on November 13, 2019.

He visited Fx3x, a Skopje-based, internationally recognized visual-effects and animation company that has worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as Transformers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Martian, and attended the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate USAID's relationship with Fx3x. With seed funding from USAID, Fx3x has become an award-winning and Oscar-nominated company with its own training program to prepare the next generation of animators. The success of the firm stands as a testament to what USAID can achieve when it works with the private sector.

Administrator Green then traveled to South East European University (SEEU) in Tetovo, founded in 2001 as a multilingual, multicultural institution through the collaborative efforts of USAID, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and other international donors. At SEEU, the Administrator attended a business fair, where he discussed incentives and obstacles for private-sector involvement in addressing development issues.

Upon returning to Skopje, Administrator Green met with Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Dr. Kocho Angjushev. Administrator Green encouraged the Deputy Prime Minister to continue to implement critical reforms, to introduce policies and measures that foster accountability and transparency, and to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption and poor governance. He also congratulated the Government and people of North Macedonia on the recent U.S. Senate vote to approve the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Protocol that helps pave the way for the country to join NATO, and commended the country's commitment to continue with reforms that will position North Macedonia for membership in the European Union.

Finally, Administrator Green attended a reception with senior government and private-sector contacts. He delivered remarks that lauded the relationship between USAID and North Macedonia over the past 26 years, and emphasized USAID's commitment to help the citizens of North Macedonia harness the power of the private sector, government, and other stakeholders. Administrator Green also presented Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev with a signed copy of the United States Senate's approval of North Macedonia's accession to NATO.