SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES HAVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY

9. December 2014.

Bujanovac - In developed countries, small family-run enterprises account for 70 percent of the economy, while in Serbia they account for only ten percent. However, when there is no work in socially-owned and budget-funded enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises get a chance. After being subsided, such Bujanovac enterprises managed to employ 148 workers in two years.

The “Stenmik” company from the village of Ljiljance, near Bujanovac, is engaged in the production of seasonal concrete slabs. The company plans to expand its production and hire more workers.

“We decided to apply for an extension of the program or for the manufacturing of furniture pieces, which can be done throughout the year”, said Sonja Mladenovic, a representative of the “Stenmik” company.

According to the Chamber of Commerce in Bujanovac, out of the 216 companies, eight are medium-sized and two are large, whereas others are small and are engaged in different activities. For entrepreneurs like Mr. Milanovic from the village of Lopardince, who has been producing concrete pipes, slabs and blocks for years, the biggest problem is the collection.

“The business is nowadays difficult because you can’t produce much, while the collection causes the biggest problem”, says Bojan Milanovic from “Djore” Ltd.

16 Bujanovac companies are awaiting privatization. There are no jobs in the budget-funded sector, either, so that small and medium-sized businesses, upon receiving subsidies, provide a chance. Businessmen who, through the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, received from the government subsidies for the purchase of the equipment, expanded their production and hired new workers.

“148 workers were, through these programs, employed in 2012, 2013 and 2014”, says Nagip Arifi, the Mayor of Bujanovac.

Fifteen small and medium-sized enterprises from Bujanovac recently received 36 million dinars. They are obliged to employ at least 69 persons, improve their business operations and become more competitive on the market.

Source: Serbian Broadcasting Corporation and Coordination Body