PRESS RELEASE (March 25, 2008)
On 28-30 March 2008, in Novi Pazar, over sixty domestic and foreign clothing, textile and equipment producers will exhibit their products at the 5th International Fashion and Equipment Fair. The Fair is organized under the auspices of the city of Novi Pazar, in cooperation with the regional Sandžak Economic Development Agency (SEDA) and USAID’s Economic Security program. The Fair will be opened by: Mr. Šefkija Halilovic, SEDA Director; Michael Pillsbury, USAID’s Economic Security program Director; and Mr. Sulejman Ugljanin, Novi Pazar mayor.
The purpose of the fair is to create and foster new business linkages with countries in the region, which in turn will help local businesses expand to new markets, grow their businesses and create new employment opportunities. USAID is supporting the fair through the provision of marketing materials and promotional activities as well as renting and delivering of stands for all exhibitors, which will provide them with space to present their products, make new business relationships, meet potential investors and sign business agreements. The fair will gather both domestic and foreign companies from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Germany, Spain, as well as business banks, Serbian National Employment Agency, Association of textile producers from Prijepolje and the first eight "students' companies" started under the Junior Achievement program that is being implemented in Novi Pazar and Prejpolje high-schools.
USAID’s Economic Security program helps businesses grow and thereby create jobs in vulnerable areas of Serbia. It takes an enterprise development approach, operating under the principle that the most stable economy is one with a thriving private sector. The program is being implemented in seven municipalities: Novi Pazar Bujanovac, Kraljevo, Kursumlija, Medvedja, Presevo, and Prijepolje. It is in these vulnerable areas of central, southwestern and southern Serbia where high unemployment is most concentrated.
Journalists interested in covering the event are kindly invited to be at Sports Hall, Generala Živkovica St. bb, Novi Pazar, on Friday, March 28 at 10:45.
For further information about this event please contact Jasmina Debeljak Maljkovic, Public relations/Media specialist, at (011) 363 9900 or Ahmet Halilagic, Field office manager at (020) 390920. For more information about USAID’s activities in Serbia, please visit http://serbia-montenegro.usaid.gov