“Providing support to micro and small companies as well as young people who possess the right skills and potential to start their own business is a common priority of the European Union, the Government of Serbia and the City of Novi Pazar,“ said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport on the occasion of presenting 22 young entrepreneurs from 14 municipalities in South East and South West Serbia with donation agreements. Through the European PROGRES Programme, the EU and the Government of Switzerland have allocated EUR183 307 to stimulate entrepreneurship among young people.
“The fact is that SMEs in the EU have a leading role in the economy and are drivers of new jobs and economic growth. Through programmes such as the European PROGRES, the European Union supports this sector and you, the young people, in implementing your entrepreneurship ideas,“ Ambassador Davenport said and added that this form of support would continue in future.
The Mayor of Novi Pazar, Nihat Bisevac, noted that unemployment was one the central issues in both Novi Pazar and the country and thanked the European Union and the Government of Switzerland for their contribution to resolving it through projects such as the European PROGRES.
“The average age of its citizens makes Novi Pazar the youngest town in Serbia; I am therefore particularly happy to know that these 22 young people are marking the beginning of their entrepreneurial careers right here,” Bisevac added and particularly congratulated the three young entrepreneurs from Novi Pazar.
Vladimir Prokopovic, who left Germany and returned to Leskovac to engage in the production of detergents and household care products in line with environmental standards, thanked the donors on behalf of budding entrepreneurs.
New opportunities for Novi Pazar shoemakers
During his visit to the Footwear Fair, organised by the cluster NP Shoes, Ambassador Davenport said that Novi Pazar was famous for its long tradition of textile, furniture and footwear production, but still faced considerable economic challenges, such as unemployment which could be tackled by strengthening micro and small businesses.
“It is crucial to support micro and small businesses as they are the basis for and the future of development and are the ones opening up opportunities for job creation,“ Davenport said. He added that thanks to the project supported by the EU and Swiss Government through the European PROGRES Programme, the shoemaking industry improved its footwear design and introduced new technologies into its manufacturing processes.
Also, it is of particular importance that the project enabled local manufacturers to join forces, broaden their knowledge and match their supply with the market demand and thus increase their competitiveness.
NP Shoes cluster brings together five businesses from Novi Pazar which have obtained new footwear design software, developed new skills and produced 40 new models of shoes and unveiled them at the Fair, all thanks to the support from the EU and the Government of Switzerland to the tune of some EUR40 000.
“We are proud of our local products and famous across the country as leaders in clothing and footwear industry. It is time we became recognised beyond our country, in the European and global market, and we are now making a step in that direction,“ the Mayor of Novi Pazar said.
Euteka in Novi Pazar
During his visit to Novi Pazar, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia presented the public library Dositej Obradovic with Euteka–labeled bookshelf, specifically designed for EU-related books and publications.
“Today, the public library Dositej Obradovic becomes a part of the Euteka network made up of 47 libraries through which Serbian citizens will have a chance to learn more about the European Union itself and the process of Serbia’s accession,” Davenport said.
Director of the library Elijas Rabonja pointed out that the library in Novi Pazar was one of the first to join this initiative in 2014. Back then, the bookshelf labeled “Serbia and the EU” offered 16 publications about the EU in Serbian to the citizens of Novi Pazar.
Head of the EU Delegation and the Mayor of Novi Pazar Nihat Bisevac said the European Union would continue to support the development of the City, whereas Ambassador Davenport said that he was encouraged by the fact that the City put the development of SMEs high on its agenda.
Over the past decade, the European Union and the Government of Switzerland have funded the implementation of more than 70 projects worth nearly EUR3.5 million in the area of infrastructure, technical documentation and planning, communal services and social inclusion.
Head of the EU Delegation ended the first day of his visit to South West Serbia by holding separate meetings with the President of the Islamic Community in Serbia, the chief mufti Mevlud Dudic, Sead Nasufovic Reis-Ul-Ulema of the Islamic Community in Serbia, as well as the members of Bosniac National Council.
On the second day of his visit, 3 November, Davenport will visit Nova Varos and Priboj.
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.
