Q:
A:
SMEs driving force for economic development
Belgrade,
2 December 2008
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic today stated that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are a driving force for employment and economic development in Serbia.
Author:
Tanjug
At the opening of the sixth international SMEs conference, Dinkic said that the SMEs sector makes up 50% of Serbian exports, adding that favourable €150 million loans will be allocated to SMEs all over Serbia.
The Minister announced that next year 3,000 loans will be set aside for entrepreneurial start-ups, saying that there are good examples of small entrepreneurs in Serbia, such as small clothes production companies in Arilje which should be promoted in order to make people aware that they can do the same.
He recalled that the Serbian government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Serbia’s participation in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) which will provide more favourable loans from European banks.
According to Dinkic, the international conference is of importance for Serbian entrepreneurs to exchange experiences with their counterparts from Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.
Dinkic said that employment opportunities for Serbian citizens are in the private sector, adding that Serbia aims to reduce its state bureaucracy.
He said that 1.6 million people work in the private sector, 1.3 million of whom work in SMEs.
Dinkic added that the future of SMEs is in clusters, first of all in the car, wood processing and textile industries.
He said that the statement of the president of Fiat, that Kragujevac will be the base for the production of the most competitive car model, as of 2010, is encouraging.
It is important that Serbia accelerates its EU integration process as it brings more funding, know-how and better quality of goods for consumers, he concluded.
Head of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia Josep Lloveras said that the Commision is ready to support SME development in Serbia and the region, noting that Serbia has made considerable progress in that sector.
He also added that €200 million will be used to fund SMEs in the Western Balkans.
The Minister announced that next year 3,000 loans will be set aside for entrepreneurial start-ups, saying that there are good examples of small entrepreneurs in Serbia, such as small clothes production companies in Arilje which should be promoted in order to make people aware that they can do the same.
He recalled that the Serbian government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Serbia’s participation in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) which will provide more favourable loans from European banks.
According to Dinkic, the international conference is of importance for Serbian entrepreneurs to exchange experiences with their counterparts from Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.
Dinkic said that employment opportunities for Serbian citizens are in the private sector, adding that Serbia aims to reduce its state bureaucracy.
He said that 1.6 million people work in the private sector, 1.3 million of whom work in SMEs.
Dinkic added that the future of SMEs is in clusters, first of all in the car, wood processing and textile industries.
He said that the statement of the president of Fiat, that Kragujevac will be the base for the production of the most competitive car model, as of 2010, is encouraging.
It is important that Serbia accelerates its EU integration process as it brings more funding, know-how and better quality of goods for consumers, he concluded.
Head of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia Josep Lloveras said that the Commision is ready to support SME development in Serbia and the region, noting that Serbia has made considerable progress in that sector.
He also added that €200 million will be used to fund SMEs in the Western Balkans.
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