President Droupadi Murmu undertook a two‑day state visit to North Macedonia (21–22 July 2026), the first visit by an Indian head of state; on 22 July she and the North Macedonian President jointly unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Museum of the City of Skopje.
Visit milestones
- Date & firsts: State visit 21–22 July 2026; first visit by an Indian head of state to North Macedonia.
- Gandhi bust unveiling: Bust of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled at the Museum of the City of Skopje on 22 July 2026.
- Parliament address: President addressed the Assembly of North Macedonia on 21 July 2026.
- ITEC expansion: India announced doubling of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation training slots for North Macedonia.
Areas of cooperation discussed
- Sectors: Agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science & technology, information technology; artificial intelligence included among training areas.
- Economic engagement: India–North Macedonia Business Forum functions as a bilateral commercial platform.
Skopje and symbolic links
- Skopje: Capital of North Macedonia; birthplace of Mother Teresa (born 1910).
- Museum: Museum of the City of Skopje is a civic museum that hosted the Gandhi bust event.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Mahatma Gandhi: 1869–1948; central concepts: satyagraha (non‑violent resistance) and ahimsa.
- ITEC: Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme for capacity building; administered by the Ministry of External Affairs; includes short courses and fellowships.
- State visit: Highest diplomatic visit level between heads of state, normally includes formal addresses, cultural events and agreements or cooperation announcements.