Supporting Business and Youth
Business Support promotes economic growth in underdeveloped municipalities in South Serbia and Sandzak by working with local small and medium sized entreprises (SMEs) and industry clusters. The program`s business development strategy involves sector specific technical assistance to promising businesses with the capacity to expand in to new markets and gain market share.
Youth Support equips Serbia`s youth with skill sets required to compete in a global economy. The Project supports:
> Local Youth Offices in implementing activities to strenghten youth entrepreneurship
> Serbian Government strategy to promote youth employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship; and,
> Work with Serbia`s private and public sector to improve internship opportunities.
Major Results
Business Support
> 57% overall sales growth recorded from 2007 to 2010 by supported companies
> $12.5 million in new sales generated through trade fair attendance
> $240,000 secured for the Sandzak Textile Association (ASSTEX) to establish permanent distribution center in Moscow
> Supported companies have entered new domestic and foreign markets (such as Bosnia, Albania, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Turkey)
> 189 jobs created
Youth Support
> 6950 youth assisted
> 1550 youth trained in entrepreneurship (hundreds have found a job or started a new business)
> 87 Youth Offices built capacity
> 23 Youth Offices throughout Serbia developed and adopted Youth Entrepreneurship Action Plans (YEAPS)
> 860 students from South Serbia and Sandzak placed as interns
> 121 companies, public institutions and non-profit organizations offered internship opportunities to local youth