Leskovac – On the occasion of three years since the beginning of the implementation of the project "Support to the Development of the Private Sector", the worth of which is 4.1 million dollars, which deals with improving the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in three cities and nine municipalities in southern Serbia, a business meeting and a mini fair of "start-up" companies were held in Leskovac.  

Ten or so businessmen received certificates at the event, which were handed over to them by the US Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott.

The project "Support to the Development of the Private Sector" is implemented by the USAID, in cooperation with the Development Agency of Serbia and in partnership with the regional agencies, including the Centre for the Development of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts. 122 small and medium-sized enterprises, mainly those run by women and young people, received financial support in the form of equipment and participation in trade fairs, training courses, consulting and monitoring. 

The advantages of the project were used by 17 companies from Jablanica and Pcinj districts that are run by young people and women and that deal with agro-industry, fashion and light industry, as well as two clusters.

Upon thanking the American people for the assistance, Zeljko Sertic, the Director of the Development Agency, talked about the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia to SMEs through the development strategy, which was adopted a year and a half ago, and about the action plan, which should make visible changes in the field of economy the following year. 

The government earmarked 16 billion dinars for that purpose, which is almost 150 million euros, while slightly less 10 billion dinars had, so far, been transferred to small and medium-sized companies.   

“The support has to do with the financial assistance, training, support to women's entrepreneurship and young people, so that we could provide them with the strength to make the first steps, but the companies that were already  operating  received the assistance, too, " Mr. Sertic said, adding that over 7,000 projects were supported in that manner.    

The USAID’s project is implemented in Leskovac, Vranje, Novi Pazar, Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedja, Raska, Sjenica, Tutin, Priboj, Prijepolje and Nova Varos.

 Source: Jugmedia and Coordination Body