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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

SMEs offer most employment opportunities

Belgrade, 26 December 2007

State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Vladimir Ilic said today that almost two-thirds of employees in Serbia work in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and that precisely this sector offers most employment opportunities.

Before the inaugural session of the Council for small and medium-sized enterprises, Ilic said that the Council was formed by government decision in August 2006 as government's working body, and new members were appointed in November this year. He said that in 2008 the state will support this sector through subsidies and loans. The problems in this sector are not related to financing, but to red tape, which will be diminished. Ilic, who is president of the Council, specified that in Serbia there are 267,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, and that they account for two-thirds of the total turnover, 40% of exports and 60% of imports. Serbian Assistant Minister of Economy and Regional Development Igor Brkanovic said that the European Union recommended to Serbia four things in the field of SMEs, and these are intensive implementation of the European Charter on SMEs, preparation of a middle-term support strategy to that sector, strengthening of the Council for SMEs and reduction of red tape. The first three recommendations are already being implemented in Serbia, while the fourth will begin early next year. The Council deals with monitoring and analysing situation in the field of SMEs, and it can give proposals, opinions and initiatives concerning the SMEs policy. The Council consists of representatives of the ministry of science, finance, trade and services, education, economy and regional development, as well as representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises.