17 micro and small enterprises in 14 local self-governments in South East and South West Serbia will improve their production and create jobs thanks to support from the European Union and the Government of Switzerland which, through the European PROGRES Programme, secured EUR253,880 for this activity aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the local economy.
“By supporting entrepreneurs, micro and small enterprises, we aim to increase employment and contribute to the value chain of local suppliers, expand the market and increase productivity,” said EU Delegation Head of Sector II Operations Steffen Hudolin in Vranje during the ceremony of awarding donation contracts to 14 local self-governments engaged in the implementation of European PROGRES Programme.
“Also, your enterprises will implement socially responsible projects meaning that local communities will benefit directly from this support through the construction of children’s playgrounds or through donations of your products to the most vulnerable social groups,” Hudolin said, stressing that support to the small business means investing in a more productive Serbian business community.
Through the European PROGRES Programme, the EU and the Government of Switzerland work closely with authorities at both local and national level and define their activities so as to meet the needs of people and its partners. This way, support activities offered to micro and small enterprises complement the efforts made by Serbian Government aimed at boosting the development of entrepreneurship.
Serbian Government declared 2016 the Year of Entrepreneurship in order to improve business environment at the national level and develop entrepreneurial spirit with the goal of making Serbian entrepreneurs competitive and appear readily on the joint, European market.
“Entrepreneurs are the fundamental, most important part of the economy in Serbia and the Government will continue to provide even more intensive support to private sector. Budget funding suffices and, in cooperation with other EU programmes, we will design new ones to support entrepreneurs,” said State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy Dragan Stevanovic.
By expressing his appreciation for the support on behalf of all entrepreneurs, Milan Velickovic, owner of a family dairy farm Velickovic in Surdulica, pointed out the importance of support in the early years of business operation. Velickovic’s business will improve its business operation, increase production and create new jobs thanks to cooling chambers obtained with the support from the EU and Swiss Government through the European PROGRES Programme.
“Despite the fact that the projects of corporate social responsibility are a novelty for most of us, we look forward to helping our community and introduce practice that goes beyond legal framework and business goals,” said Velickovic, whose business will donate dairy products to socially vulnerable families and implement the activity of cleaning the riverbed of the Alkica river.
EU support for Free Zone Vranje
Earlier that day, EU Delegation Head of Sector II Operations Steffen Hudolin met with the Mayor of Vranje Slobodan Milenkovic and toured the Free Zone Vranje. The EU and the Government of Switzerland supported this project by financing the drafting of planning and technical documents, and thus contributed to the implementation of major investments such as Geox and Ditre Italia.
“The project proves that long-term thinking, timely planning and preparation are key to development or in this case, attracting investment and creating jobs,” Steffen Hudolin said and added he was happy to know the EU would continue to support Vranje in its future efforts to further develop the Zone and attract more investment.
Through the new project, the European Union and the Government of Switzerland have allocated EUR192,000 for further development of infrastructure in the Free Zone, which entails the construction of a water supply network, sewerage system and access roads.
“The precondition to any investment is a well-developed infrastructure and this project shows the importance of the support provided by the EU and Swiss Government. Our future cooperation will move in this exact direction: through the implementation of infrastructure and other projects carried out with European PROGRES which aim to improve the lives of citizens of Vranje,” said Vranje Mayor Slobodan Milenkovic.
Head of Sector II Operations of the EU Delegation Steffen Hudolin ended his two-day visit in Bujanovac where he met with the President of Bujanovac municipality Saip Kamberi and the President of the Coordination Body for the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja Zoran Stankovic and reiterated EU’s commitment to the development of this part of the country.
The European Union and the Government of Switzerland will support the activities of the European PROGRESS programme, which contributes to the sustainable development of the South and South West Serbia, with a total of EUR24.46 million. Approved projects will be aimed at strengthening local administration, creating a favourable environment for the development of infrastructure and economy as well as improving the implementation of social inclusion and employment policy. The programme is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The municipalities included in the programme are as follows: Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varos, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raska, Sjenica and Tutin in South West Serbia, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Zitoradja, Kursumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medvedja, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladicin Han, Presevo, Surdulica, Trgoviste, Brus, Aleksinac, Gadzin Han, Doljevac, Merosina, Svrljig, Babusnica, Bela Palanka and Knjazevac in South East Serbia.
