USAID’s Economic Security program will sign a grant agreement in Novi Pazar, on 11 June, with the Sandžak Economic Development Agency (SEDA)-led project to assist businesses to participate at the upcoming 13th International Fashion Trade Fair in Moscow. Ahmet Halilagic, USAID’s Economic Security field office manager, and Samir Kačapor, SEDA director, will sign the grant agreement.
USAID’s Economic Security program will provide $57,000 financial and technical assistance to five small and medium-sized apparel businesses from Sandžak for their joint presentation at one of the most important fashion trade fairs in Eastern Europe, entitled “Collection Première Moscow,” held from 6 - 9 September 2009. At this occasion, SEDA will sign separate agreements with five Novi Pazar-based companies that will participate at the Fair: MIKAN BROSS, MENUS, BIG BOYS, BRUG and STIG. These five businesses specialize in producing garments and accessories for young people. USAID’s financial support will be for renting the exhibition space and subsidizing other organizational and promotional costs. Ahead of the Fair, USAID will support these businesses through the provision of 40 days worth of consultancy assistance intended to prepare them for exhibition, as well as assist them in establishing business contacts with Russian distributors during the Fair.
Due to a limited number of customers in local markets, most successful SMEs need to expand to new markets in order to achieve further growth. USAID is committed to advancing economic opportunities for businesses based in Sandžak in order to promote the economic potentials that can be realized by working with business from the region. In an effort to achieve these objectives, USAID’s Economic Security program provides tailored technical assistance to these businesses through consultancy assistance intended to improve the promotional and marketing capacities of these businesses at the Fair.
USAID’s Economic Security program works to promote economic growth in underdeveloped municipalities in southern and southwestern Serbia by working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) helping them to become more competitive in their current market and expand into new markets.
Journalists interested in attending the event are kindly invited to the Association of Novi Pazar textile producers “Asstex”, 26 Veljka Vlahovića, in Novi Pazar, on Thursday, 11 June, at 11.00 a.m.