Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Dinkic opens public debate on draft law on regional development

Uzice, 1 December 2008

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic, opening the public debate on the draft law on regional development in Uzice, announced that the debate will last until March 5, 2009.

Mladjan Dinkic

Author: Beta

Dinkic presented the new law at a panel discussion titled “Towards a Law on Regional Development” saying that Serbia will have seven Euroregions and will finally get an instrument for direct cooperation with other Euroregions and gain access to EU pre-accession funds.

He said that the basic goals are sustainable development by encouraging economic development, reducing regional disparities, increasing competition and improving living standards.

According to the draft law, a national agency and seven regional agencies for regional development will be formed. A national council for regional development will also be set up.

Dinkic said that funds for even-balanced regional development will be distributed depending on the development level of each region, which will be determined together with the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities.

He added that the Development Fund will also implement a regional development policy, particularly in the entrepreneurship and SME sectors.

We will finally have the instrument for direct cooperation with Euroregions and a possibility to draw funds from the EU pre-accession funds. Therefore, it is in our interest to adopt this law as soon as possible, so that you here in Uzice and other regions outside of Belgrade and Vojvodina can have access to EU funds, said Dinkic.

He added that at the moment only Belgrade and Vojvodina, as the most developed regions in Serbia, have direct links with the EU.

Dinkic noted that the adoption of the law on regional development will link Belgrade and Vojvodina with the rest of Serbia and ensure better cooperation between them.

The Minister today visited S&S SARATEX from Arilje which obtained its initial capital from the funds for the entrepreneurship development in Serbia. The loan beneficiary, Djordje Saric, started his own clothes production company, thanks to the€30,000 loan.

Dinkic added that this small enterprise is the best possible example of how a start-up loan should be used and the Ministry will keep supporting such endeavours in the upcoming period.