PRESS RELEASE
On Wednesday, 17 September, USAID’s Economic Security program will host a "Youth Entrepreneurship" round table in Vranje. The purpose of the round table is to identify challenges and constraints to youth employment in south Serbia and to provide a networking opportunity for all relevant stakeholders engaged in developing strategies on youth entrepreneurship and youth employment.
The event will be opened by the mayor of Vranje, Miroljub Stojcic. Michael Pillsbury, Director of USAID's Economic Security Program, and Ms. Mirjana Arsic, Youth Advisor at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, will be the keynote speakers.
Statistics indicate that 40% of youth under the age of twenty-five are unemployed in Serbia. The one-day round table will address various problems young people face in terms of employment, business skills advancement, access to resources and services and will provide a platform to exchange ideas on how to promote youth empowerment. The event will gather representatives from youth organizations located in south Serbia, Ministry of Youth and Sports, regional economic development agencies, local self-government officials, international organizations, local NGOs, the Coordination Body, Junior Achievement, as well as USAID’s Economic Security program staff.
USAID’s Economic Security program works to promote economic growth in underdeveloped municipalities by working with small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and works to equip Serbia’s youth with skill-sets required to compete in a global economy. The program’s youth development strategy concentrates on four distinct work areas: 1) support for youth entrepreneurship (through such programs as Junior Achievement) 2) support for the Ministry of Youth and Sport’s strategy to promote youth employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship 3) assist Serbia’s private sector to create internship opportunities for students 4) development of educational exchange programs.
Journalists interested in attending the event are kindly invited to the Administration building of Pcinj district, in Vranje, on Wednesday, 17 September, from 11 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
For more information about this event please contact Jasmina Debeljak Maljkovic, Public Relations/Media Specialist, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , at (011) 363 9900, or Bratislav Stamenkovic, program officer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , at 063/345-322. For more information about USAID’s activities in Serbia, please visit http://serbia.usaid.gov