Continuing its support to improve overall company competitiveness in an effort to increase company sales in domestic and international markets, USAID’s Economic Security program will sign a grant agreement in Vranje, on 24 March, with the Sandžak Economic Development Agency (SEDA)-led project to assist businesses participate at the upcoming 35th South-East Europe Belgrade Building Expo in Belgrade. Michael Pillsbury, USAID’s Economic Security director, and Šefkija Halilović, SEDA director, will sign the grant agreement. USAID Senior Advisor, Mr. Art Flanagan, will address the audience at the event.
USAID’s Economic Security program will provide financial and technical assistance to fourteen small and medium-sized construction businesses from South Serbia and Sandžak for their joint presentation at the largest construction fair in the region, held from 22 - 26 April 2009. At this occasion, SEDA will sign separate agreements with seven South Serbian companies for their participation at the Fair. The financial support entails renting approximately 300 sqm of in-door and outdoor space and other accompanying costs, which will enable these businesses to exhibit their products, make new business relationships and sell more products. USAID will support the organization of a training course for seven companies, following the signing ceremony in order to prepare the participants for exhibition.
Due to a limited number of customers in local markets, a majority of successful SMEs need to expand to new markets in order to achieve growth. USAID is committed to advancing economic opportunities for businesses based in South Serbia and Sandzak in order to promote the economic potentials that can be realized by working with business from these two regions. Additionally, USAID’s Economic Security program provides tailored technical assistance to these businesses through training seminars 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 Ceremony Hall at Administration building, in Vranje, on Tuesday, 24 March, at 12.20 a.m.