International Conference on Applied Economic Research at the Faculty of Economics at UKIM

On 3 October 2025, the international conference "Applied Economic Research: The Path to Optimal National Strategies and Policies in Turbulent Times" was held at the Faculty of Economics at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. It is one of the most important academic and professional events in the field of economics in the country and the region, organised by the Association of Economists of Macedonia.

As part of the second panel: "Economic Research and Economic Policies in Turbulent Times", the Director of the State Statistical Office, Mr. Dejan Stankov, participated as a panelist, emphasising in his presentation that cooperation between statisticians, researchers and policymakers is key to evidence-based policymaking and improving economic performances.

Mr. Stankov also informed the conference participants that the State Statistical Office provides high-quality data, produced according to internationally accepted standards that guarantee accuracy, comparability and reliability. In this regard, he informed that the Statistical Office has introduced important improvements in the presentation and dissemination of data - through a new website, simplified access, clearer communication and redesigned news releases.

The main dissemination channel is the MakStat database, which offers extensive data sets and allows for easy browsing, processing and automated access for analytical and research purposes.
In addition, the Director indicated that an overview of key macroeconomic indicators has also been published - the National Summary Data Page (NSDP), which is aligned with the Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus (SDDS Plus), allowing for better comparability and monitoring of trends.

The project "AI Statistical Assistant" is in its final phase and aims to provide innovative access to the statistical data of the State Statistical Office through the use of artificial intelligence and natural language.

In order to support the academic and research community, Mr. Stankov also noted that access to anonymised microdata is enabled, in full compliance with the standards for the protection of personal data.

In terms of data collection, the SSO is working on providing modern, simple and efficient ways of collecting data. The SSO has integrated advanced digital tools and electronic data collection systems (such as e-forms and online submission portals) to streamline and speed up data gathering processes.

With these efforts, the State Statistical Office is actively strengthening the cooperation with the academic community and policymakers, supporting the creation of policies that are based on relevant and accurate data.