Seventeen entrepreneurs, as well as micro and small-sized enterprises, from South East and South West Serbia will improve their production and create new jobs with the support of the European Union and the Swiss Government, which have allocated EUR253,880 for this activity through the European PROGRES development program, to boost the competitiveness of the local economy.
Entrepreneurs, micro and small-sized enterprises engaged in the production of food, clothing, metal products, in wood processing and the engineering industry will be provided, through European PROGRES, with equipment or with advisory services, which will contribute to higher output, expansion of their markets and the introduction of environment-friendly or technological innovations.
„The European Union and the Swiss Government have supported small business in our Programme municipalities, since the sector is crucial for economic growth and a rise in employment. We have supported good ideas and helped the companies that already operate, and pay their tax liabilities, to develop the potential for further growth,” said Graeme Tyndall, European PROGRES Programme Manager.
During the Call for Proposals for the improvement of private sector competitiveness European PROGRES organized 20 info sessions that brought together nearly 300 participants, as well as training events devoted to the development of business plans. One of the prerequisites in the process of project selection was the willingness of businessmen and businesswomen to develop and implement corporate social responsibility actions that are designed to benefit the wider community.
„In addition to the obvious benefits which the communities where the 17 awarded enterprises operate will experience, with the creation of more than 40 new jobs, citizens will also feel the impact of the CSR actions that have been implemented, such as the construction of playgrounds, donations of equipment to local schools, as well donations of beneficiaries’ products to the most vulnerable groups in the community, ” said Olivera Kostić, Manager of the European PROGRES Sector for Increasing Competitiveness.
A list of approved projects is available on the website of European PROGRES
http://www.europeanprogres.org/konten/sr/502/Rezultati-javnog-poziva-Podrska-mikro-i-malim-preduzecima/
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 24.46 million euros.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.
