Macedonia, an upper-middle-income country that has made great strides in reforming its economy over the past decade, has been a candidate for accession to the EU since 2005. Following strong economic growth during the period 2002–08 averaging 4.3%, average GDP growth has declined to 2.1% per year since 2009. The main drivers of growth since 2009 have been construction, industry, and wholesale and retail trade. With a population of approximately 2 million, Macedonia presents a market of modest commercial opportunities. A number of Canadian companies and investors are looking for trade and investment opportunities in Macedonia in areas such as transportation, information and communication tech