PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PRODUCED NEW ENTREPRENEURS IN SOUTH SERBIA

12. February 2018.

Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedja – Apart from financial resources and the equipment, for which they could apply, entrepreneurs from South Serbia assessed that the importance of the project of providing support to the development of the private sector is that they could, through various fairs and lectures, meet people, learn how to write business plans and implement them properly.

In addition to the opening and starting of new businesses, the existing small businesses were financed by the project as well, says Goran Stamenkovic, the owner of the company for processing and preserving fruit “Natural Magic” from Bujanovac. He used the funds to expand production.

“I received the grants with which I was able to increase production. In addition, we have introduced new products, by which we are expanding production, so that we will have to hire 3 new employees, "Mr. Stamenkovic said.

The project of providing support to development of the private sector in South and South West Serbia is implemented by the Development Agency of Serbia, in cooperation with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the regional development agencies. The implementation of the project is also supported by the regional development agencies and local self-governments.

According to the Center for Development of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts, apart from small businesses and entrepreneurs, the beneficiaries of the project also included clusters, associations, young people and women. In addition to financial assistance, various types of training courses, mentoring and lectures were organized during the implementation of the project.

Besides, 85 beneficiaries talked, through mentoring, with the staff of the Center who had helped them to further develop their businesses.

68 companies from the area of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts were involved in the project. In four years, which is how long the project was implemented, fifty people were employed on a permanent basis, while another 200 workers were hired seasonally. The total value of the entire project is 28.4 million dinars.

The cities and municipalities from South Serbia that participated in the implementation of the project included Vranje, Leskovac, Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, as well as seven cities and municipalities from the southwestern Serbia.

Source: Jugmedia and Coordination Body