PROJECT ON SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVITE SECTOR IN SOUTH SERBIA

26. May 2014.

The project will, in the future, be implemented by the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Serbia, and the Government of Serbia, through the National Agency for Regional Development and the Accredited Regional Development Agencies (Zlatibor, Kraljevo, Novi Pazar and Leskovac).

With the aim of promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and increasing sales, improving exports and creating new jobs in the sectors of agribusiness, light and textile industries, the project will be implemented in 12 municipalities in the southern and southwestern Serbia, which, among others, include Vranje, Leskovac Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. By providing financial and non-financial assistance, the project will support the development of:

The existing companies (a total of 120 selected SMEs will receive support in the form of: training, counseling, mentoring, assistance to the export-oriented companies through education and participation in international trade fairs; as well as by providing various forms of technical assistance (arranging business operations in accordance with the requirements of international business standards, new product design and packaging, development and implementation of specialized software, etc.).

Associations and clusters (at least four associations/clusters will be supported through training, technical assistance, grants, financial assistance and presentations at international fairs)

Youth and women’s entrepreneurship - Through comprehensive support for starting up businesses, in the form of: training in writing business plans, competitions and grants to finance the best business ideas, additional training, counseling and mentoring for the newly established businesses.

The project will also enhance and strengthen the links between SMEs in the selected areas and the organizations that support business operations at the national and regional levels, through constant communication between the selected business entities and NARD (and its cooperation with the regional agencies accredited with the selected region, the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency and other national bodies relevant to the development of the SME sector).

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SUPPORT THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE CONTACT THE RELATED ACCREDITED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN YOUR AREA (ARDA Leskovac - the Center for Development of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts; Address: Pana Djukica 42, Leskovac; Tel: 016/315-0115; info@centarzarazvoj.org) AND/OR TO THE NATIONAL AGENCY FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, which is located at Nikola Pasic Square 5/VI, 11000 Belgrade, Tel: 011 2060 851; 011 2060 816

Source: АRDA Leskovac and Coordination Body