Fatmir Besimi (; born 18 November 1975) is a Macedonian politician and economist of Albanian ethnicity. He currently served for Minister of Finance in North Macedonia, He also served twice as Minister of Economy (December 2004 - June 2006 and August 2008 - July 2011) then Minister of Defence (August 2011 - February 2013) and after that he was Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in charge of European Affairs (March 2013 - March 2016). In 2010 he was selected as one of the top European Ministers in the group of Young Global Leaders by World Economic Forum. Education Fatmir Besimi was born in Tetovo, North Macedonia. He attended school in Tetovo and studied Economics at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. His research thesis was on the subject “Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy in the Republic of Macedonia during the Process of Accession to the European Union". During his studies he was a scholar of the Fund for talented students of the Ministry of Education of Republic of Macedonia, as well as user of the joint scholarship of Staffordshire University, Great Britain and Open Society Institute, Hungary. Views Fatmir Besimi believes in peace and stability as the basis for a sustainable development. Globalization and integration are an imperative leading to a better quality of life through the increased competition, transparency and functional democracy. In that respect, he considers the Euro-Atlantic integrations as the best alternative for the future of the Republic of Macedonia and the Balkans. Besimi believes that the future rests solely in our hands, in our readiness to face the challenges and use our full potential in improving our living standard and the quality of life. Career In 2001 he worked in the Research Directorate in the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. From 2002 to 2003 he was Director of the Public Enterprise for Airport Services, after which he was selected as Vice-Governor of the National Bank of Republic of Macedonia. In December 2004 he was appointed Minister of Economy in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. After completing his mandate as Minister of Economy he was engaged as an economist in the World Bank Office in Kosovo in 2007. In 2008 he received a second mandate as Minister of Economy. After the early parliamentary elections in 2011 he became the Minister of Defence in the Government