The competitiveness of SMEs in Serbia is an important business segment that is improving with the support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), thus enabling SMEs to offer their products on the EU market. The entrepreneurs were able to receive more information during the online presentation, where SME Competitiveness Programme was presented by its main consultant, Giovanni Vaccari.
EBRD provides numerous programmes in various areas: strategic planning, production improvement, digitalisation, improvement of financial reporting, marketing and sales, organisation and human resources, environmental protection…
Matteo Colangeli, EBRD Regional Director for Serbia, greeted the attendees at the beginning of the event.
“We believe in this project, we see the market demand, and this has been functioning well in other countries. This is not just about the money, but about providing knowledge and skills as well. The aim is to work with local SMEs 1-on-1 to meet their individual needs in every segment of business and development. The instrument in question is very flexible as it can adapt to the needs of SMEs”, Colangeli emphasised.
Dejan Šuvakov, Programme Manager for Private Sector Development, SMEs and Innovations from the EU Delegation to Serbia, stated that the EU has invested at least EUR 200 million into the Serbian economy.
“As far as cooperation with the EBRD is concerned, we have invested almost 14 million so far, and all companies that have had the opportunity to cooperate with consultants are very satisfied with the support provided by the EBRD. This project is fit for every company, providing them exactly what they require”, Šuvakov says.
Giovanni Vaccari presented the objectives of the programme and all important information regarding the importance of developing competitiveness to all attendees.
“The aim is to increase the competitiveness of local companies so that they can be present on the EU market. Harmonisation with the EU directives will increase sales, lower energy consumption, expand the market and offer additional benefits to the users”, Vaccari states.
The programme includes two loan types: The list of suitable technologies, for financing equipment with the maximum loan of EUR 150,000, and complex projects up to the maximum cumulative amount of EUR 1 million.
“We see a growing trend, the number of companies that want to participate keeps increasing. The current programme has been in place since October 2019. EUR 70 million is available in total, and about EUR 26 million has been allocated so far”, states Vaccari.
EU has supported the strengthening of SMEs in Serbia. As Vaccari points out, more than 92% of supported companies in Serbia are outside of Belgrade, which is an excellent result.
Furthermore, Vaccari emphasised the significance of energy savings through this project, which is one of the most important aspects of EBRD’s activity.
Aleksandra Miladinović from EBRD said that this project supported more than 1,000 companies in Serbia. “When it comes to the advisory role of the EBRD, we are now working on the digitalisation of the advisory process and the development of the application, based on current needs”, Miladinović emphasises.
More information on the application process and programme participation terms and conditions are available on the project’s website.
The new credit line, provided by the EBRD through local partner banks with a grant amount of 15% and free technical assistance financed by the European Union, offers the possibility of financing equipment, technologies, processes to achieve compliance with EU directives in the field of environmental protection, energy efficiency, employee safety, and product quality and safety.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) SME Competitiveness Support Program is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia and the European Union, with the aim of helping SMEs reach EU standards and strengthen competitiveness in both the domestic and EU single markets.
