Bitola mayor Toni Konjanovski visited the IT company Cosmic Development, where he met the management team and some of the staff. Afterwards he said he had been pleasantly surprised by the dedication of the young professionals and by the company's results.

"I am especially proud that we have young people who found their place for professional growth right here, and who through their work contribute to the development of the local economy," Konjanovski said.

The numbers, however, belong to the company. Cosmic Development has more than 150 employees, has been building its story for 15 years and has offices in Bitola, Skopje and Belgrade. Around 100 young people work in Bitola, and over the years the company has been named best employer at national level.

At the meeting, according to the mayor, they discussed the challenges facing the IT sector and the opportunities for its growth. Which challenges and what opportunities, nobody said. Companies like this, Konjanovski said, are an important way of keeping young people in Bitola. We agree. The question is what the municipality is concretely offering - land, infrastructure or housing for young people - so that there are more of them. Or will it only ever visit the ones that already made it on their own?