National data center likely to be built near Bunardzik, government says

The Government has identified a likely site for the planned National Data Center near Bunardzik, close to Skopje’s Technology‑Industrial zones 1 and 2, the Minister of Digital Transformation, Stefan Andonovski, announced.

“It is located near Skopje, near the Technological-Industrial Development Zone Skopje 1 and 2, it is close to the highway, close to an optical line, so most likely the data centre will be placed there,” Andonovski said.

Funding, costs and timelines

The construction will be funded with state money and include a 30% grant component. The government is seeking an international financier after talks with the World Bank stalled because the Bank could not meet the European Union’s requirements for this type of project.

“We are talking with various financiers that are compatible with the European Union demands for this type of projects. This process is new even for the EU. The plan for growth is a new mechanism that they use for financing. So, those will be some of the international financial institutions. We have good cooperation with many of them. We haven't had projects so far, we only have one with which we are in an advanced stage of discussion with the Council of Europe Development Bank. So, we are talking with them, talking with other potential financiers. We'll see in the coming period from whom we get the best offer and who will be interested in cooperation,” Andonovski said.

The National Data Center is estimated to cost 20 million euros: 30% of that sum is earmarked for equipment and the remaining 70% for construction. Authorities say the final budget may increase depending on future hardware prices.

“We plan the project modularly to allow us with a reform agenda plus or with some projects to further equip it. Whether in terms of colocation of equipment of existing institutions or use of Artificial Intelligence. But the data centre will be designed to allow us to upgrade new infrastructure when there will be an opportunity. Some announcements from companies I hear that hardware equipment prices are expected to stagnate and fall in the coming period. So, we will use that period 2027 – 2028 for procurement of the equipment,” Andonovski said.

At present Macedonia has a single backup data centre in Prilep, operated by the Ministry of Interior. Once the national facility is completed, a migration of data from all state institutions to the new centre will begin.

Photo: Sloboden pechat / Dragan Mitreski