Belgian-Macedonian Business Club

In the context of the “Mars Francophone”, the Day of the French speaking culture took place in Skopje on March 28th. Belgium was one of the represented countries. BMBC board members Hilde de Saedeleir and Mark de Jongh together with the Belgian Consul Elena Nikodinovska supported the event.

After a minute of silence for the victims of Kočani, the event was opened by the French Ambassador in Skopje Christophe Le Rigoleur and the Mayor of Centar Goran Gerasimovski.

Belgium teamed up with the Goce Delčev school, the other participating countries Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, Greece and Switzerland did the same with other schools. It was the occasion for the students to discover Belgian culture, like Tintin, Spirou or the Schtroumps. They also crafted a Belgian city and the ‘Atomium’.

And as food is quite important in French speaking schools, a “goûter” for the students terminated the events.

The French language is spoken by 321 million people in the world. The largest French-speaking village is Kinshasa (Congo), besides Paris and Montréal seven other of the ten largest French speaking cities are in Africa.

The International Organisation of the French Language (OIF Organisation Internationale de la francophonie) implements multilateral francophone cooperation projects to promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity; but also peace, democracy and human rights; supports education, training, higher education and research and fosters economic cooperation to bolster sustainable development. North Macedonia is member of the OIF since 2006, about 43 000 persons, 2 % of the population, speak French.