In Hall 4 of the Fair, Vojvodina Metal Cluster presented its member companies through a joined stand of Serbian Export Promotion Agency and the National Stand of Serbia.

Serbian high delegation, led by Mr Boris Tadic, President of Republic of Serbia, visited VMC’s stand upon the official opening. Among the delegates who visited the stand were also Mr Nebojsa Ciric, Minister of Economy and Regional Development as well as His Excellency, Ambassador Ivo Viskovic, and Director of VIP Fund, Mr Branislav Bugarski.

During Hannover Fair, VMC also took part in a dedicated section of ‘Day of Serbian-German Trade’, which gathered most prominent speakers of both the countries, among whom the Serbian Minister of Economy, Mr Ciric, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Mr David McAllister, Director of Deutsche Messe, Mr Volfram von Fritch and the Chairman of the Committee for the East German economy, Eckhart Kordes. Numerous Serbian and German companies took part in this event while VMC used this opportunity to broaden its network and present its members from the metal industry to over a dozen major international enterprises and organisations through a series of meetings organized during the event.

Vojvodina Metal Cluster is a project financed by the European Union through RSEDP2 programme with the total budget of 740.000 EUR.

This project will secure equipping of three new laboratories which will host trainings on modern systems vehicles, as well as the basics of electrical engineering and electronics necessary to understand the principles of operation of the following systems:

- Laboratory for automehatronics,
- Laboratory of Electronics
- Laboratory for Electronics

In September last year Polytechnical School signed a contract worth 130 000 euros with representatives of the company Elettronica Veneta whose innovative equipment together with modern teaching methods of the school will provide students with best education and thus also contribute to raising competitiveness of the region in applying knowledge gained in the automotive industry.

The opening ceremony and the promotion of laboratory equipment was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, the City of Kragujevac and the Project Coordinator, Mr. Cristiano Fragassa.

Dairy producers from Southern Serbia visited a number of institutions as well as dairy farms, where they had the opportunity to learn best practices in dairy sector organization, primary production, processing, veterinary care and support of the government to this important industry branch. This experience gained will certainly leave a tremendous positive effect on milk and dairy producers in this region, all the more since
colleagues from the Austrian Agricultural Cluster agreed to hold professional seminar this September in Nis.
Candidate status for EU accession opens up wide possibilities for accessing funds for agriculture and rural development. Austrian colleagues have expressed readiness to provide all the necessary assistance and support to the Cheese Cluster “SOUTH” on its projects for dairy sector development and a joint approach to the EU funds.
Cheese Cluste “South” brings together producers, processors, educational and scientific institutions and local governments across the Southern Serbia. Project is supported by the European Union through “Regional Socio Economic Development Programme 2″ and the goal is the efficient formation of highly productive dairy sector, with products that have strong characteristics and quality of the Southern Serbian Region.

Dairy producers, members of the Cheese Cluster South, attracted attention of numerous citizens of Nis. Several thousand visitors had the opportunity to become acquainted with the wealth and quality of cheese in southern Serbia. Besides dairy products, fresh milk producers also presented their brands through their associations ‘Niska sansa’ and ‘Niski pastir’.
The fair was also an opportunity to establish new business relationships and to form a recognizable cheese brands from Southern Serbia. In addition, students of agricultural schools and farmers had the opportunity to learn more about cattle breeding on specially organized seminars and workshops.
Cheese Cluster South is an Association that connects and gathers different stakeholders involved in the chain of cheese production. Farmers, manufacturers, research institutions and local governments in Toplica, Nisava, Jablanica and Pirot district, with the EU support, gathered around a mutual goal to raise the level of cheese production with recognizable quality. This model of association may be applied to other forms of agricultural production and processing.

Business Zone Kolovrat is an industrial-commercial zone on the border of Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and its boundary position is very interesting for all industrial or manufacturing activities, which can easily be placed on all three markets. Most frequent economic activities in the area are: production, processing, building materials, storage, trading, transport and distribution.

Business Zone Kolovrat project is implemented through partnership of Municipality of Prijepolje, Public Utility Company Lim and Zlatibor Regional Development Agency for a period of 22 months and a budget of 643.221 euros, of which 465.583 euro was financed by the European Union while the additional € 177,638 was provided by the Municipality of Prijepolje in cooperation with the Directorate for Water of the Republic of Serbia.
Commercial land Kolovrat project aims to contribute to the creation of employment opportunities in the sub-region through the fulfillment Polimlje infrastructural preconditions for the smooth business development and promotion of free locations in the zone itself.
Speaking about the project Business Zone Kolovrat, Minister without Portfolio in the Government of RS, Mr Ugljanin, said: “Based on the completed project, funded by the Office for Sustainable Development of Underdeveloped Areas and partly Municipality of Prijepolje, the municipality has received EU funding for construction of water supply amounting to around 465.000 euros. I believe this is a very important project since the construction of the system will improve water supply for local communities thus solving the problem of water supply for the Industrial Zone Kolovrat. I am sure, that the implementation of this project will contribute significantly towards private sector development in the municipality of Prijepolje”.

On behalf of the donors, attendees were addressed by Mr Martin Flaherty, Team Leader of Regional Socio-Economic Development Programme 2, programme funded by the EU, who emphasized: “By improving the infrastructure and systems for safe and steady supply of water within the business zone environment will be created that will ensure the existing businesses with continuous growth and development and, furthermore, will create space for new companies to start their business in this commercial zone creating even larger number of employment opportunities. In accordance with the best traditions of the EU, this project focuses on the preservation of employment and job creation, contributing to a favorable climate for potential investment and equal regional economic development, which will certainly play an important role in the overall regional prosperity. “The importance of sustainability, employment and support investment is clearly demonstrated by the fact that sustainable growth is up 46% of the total EU budget for 2012.”, added Falherty and concluded:” The European Union has a strong experience from the Member States that the partnership of different sectors – public, private and civil sector is the recipe for sustainable success of a project as well as entire economic development”.

He finally called on investors to invest in the Business Zone and Kolovrat Prijepolje Municipality, which is now fully equipped with infrastructure to support various economic activities.

Dejan Radulovic, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Promotion of Entrepreneurship emphasized that Serbia attracted more than $12 billion of foreign direct investment in the last 5 years through proactive promotional activities. “The area of ​​business infrastructure, which includes parks and industrial zones, business zones, clusters, business incubators and tourism infrastructure is of great importance for attracting foreign direct investment, promotion, job creation and preservation of existing employment”, said Radulovic stressing thus the importance of Business Zone Kolovrat project for the development of the entire region Polimlja.

‘We are currently making the most important strategic document for regional development in Serbia – National Regional Development Plan 2013-2022. Future priorities of regional development will be based on people, location, production capacity and administrative capacity. Future priorities will be based on competitiveness, people, location, administration and development capacities in order to achieve economic growth and revitalization of the region”, concluded Radulovic.

Business Zone Kolovrat covers 60 hectares, of which 25 acres of land is cultivated. There is currently an open call for land lot rentals.

In February 2011 the Office for Roma Inclusion has initiated a project ‘Improvement of the Roma Employment in Vojvodina’. Project is worth 237.749 EUR and is co-financed by the European Union. Partner on the project is Vojvodina Provincial Secretary for Labour, Employment and Gender Equality.

Main goal of the project is to improve social and economic development and include the Roma into Vojvodina’s social commmunities through providing them with job opportunities, supporting and motivating members of Roma communities to take active part in production and service sectors. This project will be implemented in twenty municipalities across Vojvodina: Novi Kneževac, Kikinda, Sombor, Apatin, Kula, Bečej, Žitiste, Odžaci, Srbobran, Žabalj, Zrenjanin, Novi Sad, Beočin, Inđija, Ruma, Pećinci, Pančevo, Kovin, Bela Crkva and Senta. Through the employment programme the Roma entrepreneurs will receive the necessary office equipment, developed logo of their company, stamp, website, computer and multifunctional device. Beside logistics support, technical assistance is also provided through bookkeeping and mentoring services during first six months of the companny’s work.

Director of the Office for Roma Inclusion, Mr Dusko Jovanovic, has signed sixteen subventions of 3.200.000 RSD for the newly opened companies. Another ten companies are expected to open at the beginning of 2012 as the application process will soon be announced. Technical support and assistance will also be available during business plan preparation process.

During February a special course will also be organised for 150 future employees of different sectors on the teritorry of Vojvodina.

In this way, accredited agencies are delegated state affairs and implementation of development projects and activities financed from the budget and other resources in accordance with the Law. In addition, accredited agency represents the interest of the region in its relations with the National Agency for Regional Development, works with local government in preparing and implementing local development plans, facilitates international, cross-border and inter-municipal cooperation within its jurisdiction and coordinates information system relevant to the region.
First accreditation is received for the period of two years after which the agency needs to be re-accredited.

RRA Zlatibor Užice is the second development agency in the region of Šumadija and Western Serbia to be accredited, after Regional Agency for Spatial and Economic Development of Raska and Morava districts of Kraljevo.

Accreditation of regional development agencies is carried out to establish legal and institutional framework for planning, organizing, coordinating and implementing development activities and to ensure the quality and sustainability of institutions dealing with regional development in accordance with the Law on Regional Development.

As the only accredited Regional Development Agency in the area of Backa, Development Agency Backa shall enable through its actions, to all interested local governments, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs and educational institutions, participation in the programs conducted by the National Agency for Regional Development, which are important for social and economic development of Backa.

The importance of this project and the study was presented by Vladimir Dodić, Director of the Regional Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises, Ljiljana Stanković, Professor of Economics, University of Nis and Igor Novakovic, Mayor of Palilula. Main objective of the project, according to Vladimir Dodic, project manager, is to support balanced regional development in Serbia through encouragement and support for innovation activities of SMEs in the Nis Region.

‘Situation in the economy is quite heavy and has a lot of problems’, pointed out Dodic and explained ‘Our team of experts and university professors visited about 300 companies and after processing the questionnaire we have done a study that would provide us with an insight into the current state of our economy. The project lasts for two years and we plan to work on innovation so that the final result is transformation of our regional centre into an Innovation Centre. Project is worth about 154 000 euro. According to prof. Dr. Ljiljana Stanković, who presented this research, some 300 companies in this region are ready for innovation.

“Innovation is an important factor in the competitiveness of both global and domestic market. Country’s ability to sustain economic growth and competitiveness lies in the activation of innovation and learning processes. Therefore, innovations are a challenge for any business, especially for those that are exposed to international competition, said Igor Novakovic, President of Palilula Municipality, at the presentation of the Study.
Compared to European countries, potential for innovation in the private sector in Serbia is in a worse position in terms of market access, funding and investment in research and development of new products. In order to create climate that will stimulate innovation processes, in Serbia there is a national innovation system which has been operating as a complex system composed of a number of relevant institutions and sectors involved such as the government, financial sector, education system, labor market, technological organizations and research institutions. Their activities are designed to be aimed at achieving specific goals through effective use of public instruments.
Palilula Municipality has shown great interest in this study and so as a part of the presentation the Agreement of Cooperation was signed between Municipality of Palilula and the Regional Centre thus regulating the implementation of two projects: ‘Increasing competitiveness of the economy by stimulating the Region of Nis’ innovative activities of SMEs’ and ‘How to do business with the EU’, which are both a part of cross-border cooperation between the City of Nis and Municipality of Pernik, Bulgaria.

Project objectives

- Creating new employment opportunities and reducing depopulation of the rural areas of Serbia. An increase of a minimum 300 new jobs for local women is expected. Depopulation of the rural regions participating in the project are expected to be slowed down or stopped.

- To improve quality standards in production, packaging and marketing of authentic traditional Serbian handicrafts.

- Sales/total turnover of traditional handicrafts through the network will increase by at least 20%. Customer satisfaction is expected to be increased, too.

- Exploiting networking opportunities and supporting cooperation among members of Ethno network, institutional stakeholders and members of supply chain, particularly with the tourism sector.

Project financing:

This project is financed by the European Union through RSEDP2 programme.

Project partners:

- NALED – National alliance for local economic development

- Tourist organization of Belgrade

- Faculty of applied arts, Belgrade

- Municipalities of Golubac, Kladovo, Negotin, Veliko Gradiste, Zajecar

Impacts of the project:

- Setting up Ethno Network as a professional regional organization supporting local initiatives and producers.

- Ethno Network used as a resource pool for joint promotion, lobbying, and exchange of experience, providing commercial and business development opportunities for producers, purchasers and supporting institutions.

- Cultural heritage and creativity of local producers harnessed as a competitive advantage into development of commercial products with at least three new products developed and commercialized.

- Innovative marketing models and tools for promotion of handicrafts prepared and implemented through the network.

- Established professional training and coaching centre helping producers achieve excellence and high quality standards

- Setting up web site with the web shop.

Awards to the authors of the best miniatures

In the Gallery of the National Bank of Serbia in Belgrade, exhibition of handicrafts entitled “100 women – 100 miniatures”, was held from December 29, 2011, to January 20, 2012. The idea of Ethno Network is to establish traditional exhibition held for the second time –this year within the project “Employment in rural areas”. The main goal is strengthening associations of producers of handicrafts in the partners municipalities of Eastern Serbia, encouraging their creativity and supporting (self)employment of women from rural, less developed areas.

During the official award ceremony, held on January 18, Sofija Arsic, experts’ coordinator of Ethno Network, emphasised the importance of participation of women from all over Serbia in such event. The Experts jury, consisting of Ethno Network designers and experts from the Faculty of Applied Arts, brought the decision on the best four miniatures, while the Honorary jury was deciding on the best young author. Awarded authors received the prizes – 1,000 euros each, as an incentive for further work and improvement.

The award of Experts jury for the best miniature created in technique of embroidery was granted to Zorica Jovanovic from Boljevac, for fillet-lace making to Gordana Vidanovic from Bela Palanka, and in the category of weaving to Evica Djuric from Veliko Gradiste. The award in the category of felting wool was granted to Ljiljana Misetic from Odzaci. The best young author, according to the Honorary jury, was Danijela Aradjanski from Kikinda.

What has so far been the biggest challenge in your work? 

Cooperation with municipalities and other development institutions and organizations both at local and national level has set a framework for collaboration and coordination of joint activities in the development of the region and its distinctiveness even beyond the national borders. This process is still ongoing and represents a challenge for all the employees of the Development Agency in terms of establishing new and improving existing functional links with the established administrative apparatus that is slowly but surely introduced into strategic planning process in a broader, more regional context.

What has so far been achieved and what are now the next important goals?

By the Agency’s success I first mean the completion of all necessary documents, socio-economic analysis, strategy, development plans necessary to further harmonize the needs of all members of the regional development of Raska and Morava districts.  Strengthening capacities of the employees in cooperation with all the interested parties is also a prerequisite for better understanding of the regional development process. Future priority refers to the implementation of the Regional Development Plan and harmonization of objectives and priorities with the National Plan of Regional Development. Also one of the goals is to strengthen cooperation with entrepreneurs as the drivers of the economic development and to improve the competitiveness of the region. Establishing cooperation with relevant international institutions is also in order to exchange and apply good practices respecting the diversity of the territory.

There are eight member institutions within the Assembly of your agency. Is it sometimes difficult to coordinate such a large number of stakeholders and how do you handle potential situations of disagreement? How to achieve the right balance and compromise among the partner institutions?

RRA is open for cooperation with all institutions, organizations, individuals and all those who contribute to socio-economic development of Raska and Morava districts. The biggest challenge is to unite all good initiatives in one functional and efficient way and to support them equally. Our so far experience shows that our founders and members were willing to undertake joint actions that will lead to more intensive promotion of existing resources, to make visible and make this territory more visible and attractive for future investments. Before us is a constant ongoing dialogue and coordination of needs as well as creation of new and strengthening of existing functional relationships, both at local and national level and beyond, with respect for international recognition.

Model of development through Regional Development Agencies like yours is what is already used in Europe for several years as one of the most successful approach to the balanced economic and social development. What do you see as the biggest advantage of such a decentralized system of development and what is the agency’s role within it?

The objectives of regional development require respect for the principles of understanding, partnership, trust and equal opportunity for all as a key for identifying local needs and their articulation with broader social and economic interests. In the center of all happenings is a man, his potentials, needs and opportunities as a subject of each planned process and improvement. The role of the agency is to coordinate this process; direct, coordinate and implement it. For successful implementation of the goals it takes commitment, openness and understanding. The key also lies in the willingness of local stakeholders to work together. Very important is the respect of every individual or organization’s effort to ensure continuity of their participation in development processes, to propose, establish and improve their work, organization and environment in which they operate and work by initiating inter-agency cooperation and dialogue.

Does your agency, and in what manner, cooperate with other agencies in Serbia and the region?

Regional development agencies’ formation process in Serbia has been going on for a decade and one certainly cannot ignore the overall resources that have been invested in this process. Cooperation between agencies is critical for improving the planning system and its effectiveness, and everything else for what development agencies advocate. The degree of cooperation that currently exists is also improved through including newly established agencies in ongoing activities. Although each of the agencies primarily represents the interests of its territory and the region there are also inter-regional and international partnerships established in order to implement the broader socio-economic development interests, with inter-regional aspect seen much wider that national borders. All this goes to show how complex these processes are and how close their stakeholders are connected.

Do you possibly have any role models in your working environment or have you defined your goals and strategy by yourselves?  
Individual development of each agency depends largely on the environment and its specific features. Main task of the agency is to present its region’s specific potentials in most efficient way while coordinating their further development in cooperation with other regions, both national and international. This greatly enriches their mutual cooperation and emphasizes innovation and creativity in development of projects and activities. Although some of these activities are identical and specified by national documents, such as the service implemented through the National Agency for Regional Development onto the sector of small and medium enterprises, at the same time other needs and requirements are tackled in cooperation with local and regional development factors. One of most successful examples of cooperation at the regional level is a program for Improvement of wood processing competitiveness at the level of Raska and Morava districts which we are doing in partnership with the Secondary Forestry School of Kraljevo, Kraljevo Chamber of Commerce as well as municipalities, cities and businessmen of Raska and Morava districts.

What is your cooperation with RSEDP2 and what does it consist of?

Established technical support by RSEDP II program is effective and useful in the process of understanding needs, building and strengthening sector capacities and institutional cooperation at all levels. Specifically, a set of provided consulting services for improving knowledge and understanding of the development processes employed in the agencies and key stakeholders support development initiatives at local, regional and national level to effectively implement regional development policies established in the EU are important components of the program. Connection and cooperation with other international programs and initiatives is the added value of the project, which emphasizes the development based on a realistic basis to open dialogue and cooperation. Consultancy support has enabled the Agency to systematically collect and process large amounts of data and guidelines for the development and improvement of organizational structure in the implementation of planned activities. This kind of concentrated and clearly directed support will certainly be of importance in the coming period.

Who are your agency’s partners and how are you connected with them?

Positioning of the RDA as a key institution for implementation of programme and regional development projects involves formation of broad partnerships with local government units, scientific research institutions, chambers of commerce, NGOs, donor programs, potential investors, businessmen, government institutions and other development agencies. All together they represent partners in implementing the vision of Raska and Morava district as technologically-innovative region open to new business ideas, activities and partnerships based on human capital and institutional efficiency, easily accessible, attractive destination for new investment in the economy, industry, agriculture and tourism, acting in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, improving the quality of life and inclusion of all citizens.

What is your personal challenge and goal, and what would you highlight as your biggest success so far?

Establishing sustainability of regional development agencies is a key challenge for all actors of regional development in Serbia. It is a challenge that they face in their everyday work. However, a sense of belonging to a time that brings about positive changes in thinking, creativity and cooperation, to me has special value and thus the responsibility for all future activities undertaken in the field of development initiatives. The fact that businessmen, individuals and organizations we work with recognize our professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm speaks volumes about the creation of an open and effective institution that has the support of its founders, partners and associates. From this I can conclude that only joint efforts can properly rescale potential for regional development of and thus contribute to the quality of life.

Do you have any messages to your colleagues from other agencies?

Beside the best of luck on a personal and business level I would invite all our colleagues for an even stronger partnership, based on openness and trust.

Dear friends, colleagues and partners,

The beginning of a year is always a time to look back at the previous year’s achievements, comparing our goals with their outcomes and looking into the future with even greater aspirations. It’s a time to set up new targets, try for better results and decide on new resolutions and commitments.

Looking back at the last year I cannot help but reach the conclusion that we managed together to take new steps towards successful regional economic development despite all the difficulties and circumstances. We successfully supported our RDAs and their partners in developing Regional Socio-economic profiles and preparing analysis which will lead to finalising Regional Strategies, we completed a number of training programmes for the Regional Development Agencies (Financial Management, CBA, Environment Impact Assessment and Communication Skills) and supported the development of a number of municipal partnership projects witnessing official partnership agreements for example, between the municipalities of Loznica and Pecinci and we enjoyed many successful outcomes and success stories from the project activities of the grant scheme.

Your achievements are to be commended and I wish you continued success.

Although a little belated, I would also like to wish each and everyone of you and your families a Happy New Year, good health and wealth in the future.

The importance of this project and the study was presented by Vladimir Dodić, Director of the Regional Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises, Ljiljana Stanković, Professor of Economics, University of Nis and Igor Novakovic, Mayor of Palilula. Main objective of the project, according to Vladimir Dodic, project manager, is to support balanced regional development in Serbia through encouragement and support for innovation activities of SMEs in the Nis Region.

‘Situation in the economy is quite heavy and has a lot of problems’, pointed out Dodic and explained ‘Our team of experts and university professors visited about 300 companies and after processing the questionnaire we have done a study that would provide us with an insight into the current state of our economy. The project lasts for two years and we plan to work on innovation so that the final result is transformation of our regional centre into an Innovation Centre. Project is worth about 154 000 euro. According to prof. Dr. Ljiljana Stanković, who presented this research, some 300 companies in this region are ready for innovation.

“Innovation is an important factor in the competitiveness of both global and domestic market. Country’s ability to sustain economic growth and competitiveness lies in the activation of innovation and learning processes. Therefore, innovations are a challenge for any business, especially for those that are exposed to international competition, said Igor Novakovic, President of Palilula Municipality, at the presentation of the Study.
Compared to European countries, potential for innovation in the private sector in Serbia is in a worse position in terms of market access, funding and investment in research and development of new products. In order to create climate that will stimulate innovation processes, in Serbia there is a national innovation system which has been operating as a complex system composed of a number of relevant institutions and sectors involved such as the government, financial sector, education system, labor market, technological organizations and research institutions. Their activities are designed to be aimed at achieving specific goals through effective use of public instruments.
Palilula Municipality has shown great interest in this study and so as a part of the presentation the Agreement of Cooperation was signed between Municipality of Palilula and the Regional Centre thus regulating the implementation of two projects: ‘Increasing competitiveness of the economy by stimulating the Region of Nis’ innovative activities of SMEs’ and ‘How to do business with the EU’, which are both a part of cross-border cooperation between the City of Nis and Municipality of Pernik, Bulgaria.

RRA Zlatibor Užice is the second development agency in the region of Šumadija and Western Serbia to be accredited, after Regional Agency for Spatial and Economic Development of Raska and Morava districts of Kraljevo.
Accreditation of regional development agencies is carried out to establish legal and institutional framework for planning, organizing, coordinating and implementing development activities and to ensure the quality and sustainability of institutions dealing with regional development in accordance with the Law on Regional Development.
In this way, accredited agencies are delegated state affairs and implementation of development projects and activities financed from the budget and other resources in accordance with the Law. In addition, accredited agency represents the interest of the region in its relations with the National Agency for Regional Development, works with local government in preparing and implementing local development plans, facilitates international, cross-border and inter-municipal cooperation within its jurisdiction and coordinates information system relevant to the region.
First accreditation is received for the period of two years after which the agency needs to be re-accredited.

By gaining accreditation, Regional Development Agency Backa becomes the subject of regional development, and that will enable it to implement the measures and programs of importance for the balanced regional development on the territory of Backa, inhabited by over one million people and to actively contribute to socio-economic development of Backa and local governments located in its territory.

Regional Development Agency Backa was established on April 28th 2010 in Novi Sad, in accordance with the Law on Regional Development. The founders of the Development Agency are thirteen local authorities in the territory of Backa: Bac, Backa Palanka, Backi Petrovac, Beocin, Becej, Srbobran, Sremski Karlovci, Odzaci, Kula, Vrbas, Titel, Zabalj and Sombor, and five business entities Slovan Progres – Selenca, Recycling Center Braca Ilic – Backa Palanka, I2R Ltd. Novi Sad, the European Movement in Serbia – Novi Sad, Centre for Organic Production – Selenca.

The future role and importance of the Regional Development Agency Backa, in addition to its founders, was recognized by the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, which financially supported the development of institutional capacities and functioning of the Agency until 2014.

As the only accredited Regional Development Agency in the area of Backa, Development Agency Backa shall enable through its actions, to all interested local governments, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs and educational institutions, participation in the programs conducted by the National Agency for Regional Development, which are important for social and economic development of Backa.

Besides the Regional Development Agency of Srem, the initiator of this event, the founding meeting also attended the representatives of the municipality of Ruma, Commercial district of Srem and Chamber of Commerce.
It was pointed out that these associations in other areas were shown as a service to entrepreneurs and through which they have easier access to domestic and foreign funds.
Emica Vuckovic, the President of the entrepreneurs’ association, said that the association is a normative for  further development and we need to use all the benefits it brings, because only in this way they can more easily achieve common goals, to influence in a larger extent on the events, and above all, to help each other. “The time is hard and we have to fight, but I hope that all entrepreneurs who are with us today will get their chance. The goal is not only to unite but to point out that entrepreneurs should not sit at home and wait for the job, but to initiate something and to provide information and be helpful to all interested” said Mrs Vuckovic.

Sofija Arsic, experts’ coordinator of Ethno Network and author of the idea of miniatures exhibition, thanked to all the partners for their support and emphasised the importance of participation of women from all over Serbia in such event. She said that the goal of the project should not be awards, but enabling women to earn for themselves and their families by producing handicrafts. She also invited young authors to participate in the project and demonstrate their skills. Andrew Headey, Head of Operations III of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, highlighted that the European Union, through the RSEDP2 programme, invested 226,000 euros to support the project of employing women in rural areas.

 - In the next two years, during the project, we expect creating of 300 new working places for women, at least three new products and the new center for professional training, to assist women with improving production and selling their products – said Mr. Headey.

 The Experts jury, consisting of Ethno Network designers and experts from the Faculty of Applied Arts, brought the decision on the best four miniatures, while the Honorary jury was deciding on the best young author. Awarded authors received the prizes – 1,000 euros each, as an incentive for further work and improvement.

 The award of Experts jury for the best miniature created in technique of embroidery was granted to Zorica Jovanovic from Boljevac, for fillet-lace making to Gordana Vidanovic from Bela Palanka, and in the category of weaving to Evica Djuric from Veliko Gradiste. The award in the category of felting wool was granted to Ljiljana Misetic from Odzaci. The best young author, according to the Honorary jury, was Danijela Aradjanski from Kikinda. Awards were delivered by Ana Zegarac, Assistant director of the National Agency for Regional Development, while Slobodan Bata Spasojevic, fashion designer and a member of the Honorary jury, congratulated to the most successful young author.

 The idea of Ethno Network is to establish traditional exhibition, that is held for the second time this year, and the main goal is strengthening associations of producers of handicrafts in the partners municipalities of Eastern Serbia, encouraging their creativity and supporting (self)employment of women from rural, less developed areas.

In February 2011 the Office for Roma Inclusion has initiated a project ‘Improvement of the Roma Employment in Vojvodina’. Project is worth 237.749 EUR and is co-financed by the European Union. Partner on the project is Vojvodina Provincial Secretary for Labour, Employment and Gender Equality.

Main goal of the project is to improve social and economic development and include the Roma into Vojvodina’s social commmunities through providing them with job opportunities, supporting and motivating members of Roma communities to take active part in production and service sectors. This project will be implemented in twenty municipalities across Vojvodina: Novi Kneževac, Kikinda, Sombor, Apatin, Kula, Bečej, Žitiste, Odžaci, Srbobran, Žabalj, Zrenjanin, Novi Sad, Beočin, Inđija, Ruma, Pećinci, Pančevo, Kovin, Bela Crkva and Senta. Through the employment programme the Roma entrepreneurs will receive the necessary office equipment, developed logo of their company, stamp, website, computer and multifunctional device. Beside logistics support, technical assistance is also provided through bookkeeping and mentoring services during first six months of the companny’s work.

Director of the Office for Roma Inclusion, Mr Dusko Jovanovic, has signed sixteen subventions of 3.200.000 RSD for the newly opened companies. Another ten companies are expected to open at the beginning of 2012 as the application process will soon be announced. Technical support and assistance will also be available during business plan preparation process.

During February a special course will also be organised for 150 future employees of different sectors on the teritorry of Vojvodina.

The caravan is a part of a larger activity programme of the Cheese Cluster – a project funded by the European Union through RSEDP2 with 350.000 euro.

Dairy factories, members of the Cluster SOUTH, will present a wide range of their products to the citizens of Pirot, Tijabari and Guševice, as a start.

Association “South Cheese Cluster” together with the Municipality of Pirot and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development announced the details of the tour at the press conference.

Vesna Lazarevic, Associate of Pirot for Agriculture, said the goal is to “connect producers and processors together to perform market products to protect and preserve their quality.”

“It is very important to leverage the quality as well as joint market, and the EU for such products,” she said

The caravan started in Pirot town – the “cradle of cheese.” Lazarevic added that the visitors of the caravan will have the opportunity to get to know the products and their quality, variety and processes. Production of cheese in the South-East Serbia has a long tradition and cheese from Pirot was exported in large quantities the USA market until the World War II.

In addition to presenting products and manufacturers, the purpose of the cheese caravan is to promote indigenous type of cheese from the south of Serbia, to establish a brand product, which is also the motto of this event.

]]> http://www.rsedp2serbia.eu/news/events/cheese-caravan-began-its-visit-to-ten-towns-across-serbia/feed/ 0 http://www.rsedp2serbia.eu/news/events/third-anniversary-of-business-innovation-centre-kragujevac/ http://www.rsedp2serbia.eu/news/events/third-anniversary-of-business-innovation-centre-kragujevac/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:36:42 +0000 brankko http://www.rsedp2serbia.eu/?p=919 Continue reading →]]> Business Innovation Centre Ltd (BIC), was founded by City of Kragujevac, Regional Chamber of Commerce Kragujevac, Regional Agency for Economic Development of Šumadija and Pomoravlje, Association of Private Entrepreneurs “Šumadija” and General Association of Entrepreneurs “Sloga” and is today a symbol of support to young entrepreneurs through preparation, establishment, incubation period of legal subjects, projects, education and collaboration with other relevant institutions. The ceremony was hosted by Mr. Dragan Rankovic, Director of Business Innovation Centre Ltd, Mr. Zoran Kuzmanovic, President of BIC Assembly and Mr. Vojislav Veljkovic, Project Assistant of BIC’s “Virtual Incubator program for SME project, funded by the European Union. BIC was marked by activities designed to support the development of young companies such as writing business plans, business consulting in the pre-incubation period and the use of office space and other BIC resources (free parking space, reception desk services, conference and presentations rooms, consulting services, etc.), networking of tenants with individuals and companies, marketing and promotion of tenants, during the period of companies incubation. BIC has been actively involved in applying on national and international calls for project proposals and in activities of the Network of business incubators of Serbia. As the main results, the incubation of 22 companies with 90 employees, out of which 6 companies successfully completed the incubation are emphasized. Numerous national and international projects were also implemented.

One in particular and of great significance to Business Innovation Centre is “Virtual Incubator Program for SMEs”, which was officially opened on this occasion by the hosts and Mr. Hugh Brooks, representative of RSEDP2. This project is a virtual office and there are very few of the kind still in Serbia. It will serve as an IT training centre for education of SME representatives and students. “Virtual Incubator Program for SMEs”, is a part of Business Innovation Centre Kragujevac and is financed by the European Union through Regional Socio-Economic Development Programme 2 (RSEDP2) with over 140.000 euro.

Activities for next period will include participation on fairs, thematic workshops, presentations and other events organized in order to promote BIC tenants. Significant collaboration with the Faculties of Engineering, Law and Economics from Kragujevac has also been established in the field of project implementation and informing and education of students about entrepreneurship. Taking into account that the Business Innovation Centre Ltd Kragujevac, definitely, became a recognized institution in the City of Kragujevac and in the Business Incubator Network of Serbia, the future plans are:

• Further support to young entrepreneurs,
• Intensifying cooperation with the University of Kragujevac
• Development of a network of consultants
• Development of new services to tenants and third parties via virtual incubation