THE FIRST FAIR OF INVESTMENT POTENTIAL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF PRESEVO, BUJANOVAC AND MEDVEDJA

23. April 2013.

The Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce,on Thursday, April 25, 2013,organizes the first fair of investment potential of the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. The fair was supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Serbia and the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia.

The fair is aimed at supporting the economic development of the three municipalities in southern Serbia, promoting investment opportunities and establishing contacts with the potential and interested investors and partners.

The fair will bring together businessmen from the three municipalities, local and foreign investors, ministers of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, representatives of the ministries and numerous ambassadors. 22 companies from the three municipalities, eight from Bujanovac and Presevo each and six from Medvedja, will be presented to the potential investors.

"It is of great importance and significance to revive the region in such a way that we provide assistance with starting businesses and hiring people," said Zoran Stankovic, President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. We are obliged to do it by the economic situation in these municipalities, which is very difficult, and by the unemployment rate, which is one of the highest in the Republic of Serbia, said Mr. Stankovic.

"There are economic resources and it is now up to us to work together with the local and foreign investors in order to try to initiate and utilize these opportunities," said Mr. Stankovic, undrescoring that the Coordination Body had awarded 40 million dinars of grants to small and medium-sized companie in those municipalities the year before, which resulted in increased jobs.

The plan for this year is to assign 60 million dinars of grants to entrepreneurs. I believe that in this way we will be able, little by little, to help launch the economy in the region, which will contribute to the staying of young people in the region and to stabilization of the political situation in these municipalities, "said Mr. Stankovic.

"The target group of exhibitors are economic representatives of embassies, foreign and domestic companies, investors and trade associations," said Vice President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Vida Dzagic, and explained that exhibitors would, through direct talks, have the opportunity to get new business deals, partnerships and investors.

“An important part of the fair will be a round table on the sources of financing of small and medium-sized enterprises, which is organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Self-government, "said Mrs. Džagić, underscoring the desire of the organizers of the fair that the fair becomes a traditional event, by which a further step in encouraging the economic development of the three municipalities would be made.