Representatives from the Centre for Development of the Eastern Planning Region and the regional branch of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia participated in a study visit to Lithuania from October 21-22, 2026. This visit was part of the activities under a project aimed at strengthening regional and local centers for attracting and retaining talent and investments.
The study visit brought together project partners and representatives from their respective stakeholder group to exchange experiences and best practices regarding talent attraction and retention, investment promotion, and regional development. The discussions highlighted how collaboration among businesses, educational institutions, and public organizations can enhance a region’s appeal.
Participants attended presentations by regional development organizations, businesses, and communications experts, who shared their experiences and approaches to boosting regional attractiveness. Additionally, the approach of the Panevėžys Development Agency toward attracting talent and investments was presented, underscoring the importance of connecting local stakeholders and promoting the region’s opportunities. Lithuania’s national investment promotion agency presented the role of investment attraction in supporting regional economic growth, while a representative from the business sector shared the business community’s perspective on the importance of attracting and retaining talent.
A significant part of the study visit was dedicated to a peer review and an exchange of experiences among the partners regarding value propositions and the promotional activities of the hubs, with participants sharing their respective approaches, challenges, and lessons learned. This provided an opportunity to reflect on how regions can better position themselves, communicate their strengths, and develop compelling propositions to attract talent and businesses.
The second day focused on practical examples of collaboration between industry and the education sector, demonstrating how Panevėžys works to align skills development with the needs of the local labor market. The visit offered insights into talent attraction and retention processes from the employers’ perspective, allowing participants to examine the challenges and opportunities associated with developing a skilled industrial workforce.
Furthermore, the visit continued at the Panevėžio Kolegija, where participants had the opportunity to discuss the links between higher education, applied research, and the employment of skilled personnel at the local level. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the work of the STEAM center in Panevėžys and the importance of collaboration between the education and business sectors in helping young people discover career opportunities and develop skills relevant to the regional economy.
These visits demonstrated how partnerships between companies, educational institutions, and regional organizations can contribute to building stronger talent pools, supporting career development, and creating opportunities for young people to envision their future within the region.
This people-centered approach reflects the broader ambition of the MAGNET project: to help European regions enhance their attractiveness by creating environments where talent can flourish, businesses can innovate, and communities can thrive. The study visit offered partners valuable opportunities to learn from the experience of Panevėžys, exchange ideas, and reflect on approaches that could be adapted to their own regional contexts.
In addition to the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience, the two-day event included a working meeting for the project teams from all partners, where future steps for project implementation and financial aspects were discussed. The project “Strengthening Regional and Local Centres for Attracting and Retaining Talent and Investments – MAGNET” is funded by the Interreg Europe programme and is implemented in partnership with 6 other organizations.
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