On 4-6 October, apparel producers from Sandžak, led by the Sandžak Economic Development Agency (SEDA), will exhibit their products at the 48th International Fashion Fair (textile, clothing and equipment) in Belgrade. The entrepreneurs’ participation at the fair was supported by USAID’s Economic Security Program.
On 4-6 October, apparel producers from Sandžak, led by the Sandžak Economic Development Agency (SEDA), will exhibit their products at the 48th International Fashion Fair (textile, clothing and equipment) in Belgrade. The entrepreneurs’ participation at the fair was supported by USAID’s Economic Security Program.
USAID’s financial support covered the marketing/promotional activities and renting of 500sqm exhibition space, allowing at least 16 textile entrepreneurs, along with footwear and repro material producers from Sandžak, to present themselves jointly at the country’s biggest fashion fair, under the “Novi Pazar Economy” booth. Sandžak apparel producers face declining demand of their products as competition becomes stronger, and this event offers a great opportunity to promote their products, establish new business contacts among other apparel producers, distributors and traders, and potentially expand into new markets. Among the small and medium enterprises taking part in the exhibition will be Stig, Nesal, Bros, Zemax, Classic, Big Boys, Brug, Consul Jeans, EMB-Aldina, and others.
USAID’s Economic Security program focuses on areas of central, southwestern and southern Serbia where high unemployment and a lack of adequate and accessible resources have made adapting to the process of transition to a market economy more difficult for many people. The program supports private sector development and local economic growth by enhancing public/private partnerships and implementing strategies conducive to the growth of small, medium and micro-enterprises that will create jobs for and improve the economic security of vulnerable populations. The apparel sector in Novi Pazar has been identified by USAID as the sub-sector with the greatest potential to positively affect the municipal economy and targeted vulnerable groups, such as unemployed and women.
SEDA had led a group of apparel producers at this fair since 2002 on the initiative of local public and private sector. SEDA focuses on development of SMEs and the overall economy in the southwestern region of Serbia.