EU-EBRD support is set to benefit 900 small and medium enterprises in serbia, enabling them to increase their competitiveness both regionally and across the EU.  So far 900 such companies have been supported by the EBRD advisory services

Serbian small and medium-sized enterprises stand to improve their competitiveness after the launch in Belgrade of the EBRD SME advisory support programme, “EU for Serbia”.

The programme uses local and international advisors to help companies boost capacity and competitiveness and provide individualised support and advice.  The programme is supported by the EU, with funding of  €2 million from the national Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.  The programme runs collaboratively with the Serbian Ministry of Economy.

SMEs will be given the opportunity to benefit from many advisory services.  These will cover such things as quality standards,  marketing, financial analysis, the introduction of management information systems and business planning.  The funds from the EU are intended to meet the costs of the advisory services and the companies stand to gain a competitive edge, increased efficiency and an improvement in t heir exports. Milun Trivunac, Serbia’s State Secretary for the Ministry of Economy, along with the EU Ambassador Sem Fabrizi and Zsuzsanna Hargitai, EBRD’s Western Balkans Regional Director all attended the programme’s launch event that took place in Belgrade.  SMEs represent 99% of the registered business enterprises in Serbia, generating around 67% of the employment within the country.  It was agreed to step up the support provided to SMEs.

State Secretary, Milun Trivunac, acknowledged with gratitude that by accepting the Ministry of Economy initiative the EU had provided €2.2 million from the IPA funds in order to provide the advisory programme for SMEs, which would aid a minimum of 130 enterprises.

Trivunac said, “This program presents the continuation of a very successful and long-standing cooperation with the EBRD on the capacity building of Serbian SMEs”  he continued, “Our small businesses are provided with a knowledge transfer from industrial experts from the EBRD data base who possess enormous practical experience”.

Sem Fabrizi, Ambassador of the EU to Serbia, also acknowledged the role of the EU in allocating the additional  €2.2 million to enable the programme to continue. The support for the programme has now reach a total of €14 million and this was in part recognition of the success of the programme.