PUBLIC CALL - STANDARDIZED MENTORING SERVICE TO SECTORS OF THE PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN 2025

The Development Agency of Serbia (hereinafter: RAS) announces a Public Call for participation in the "Program for providing standardized mentoring services to the manufacturing industry sectors in 2025", which is an integral part of the program of RAS and the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation JICA "Strengthening and further establishment of mentoring services for small and medium-sized enterprises in the countries of the Western Balkans" (hereinafter the Program) with the aim of improving the business environment and supporting the smooth development of MSMEs operating within sector of the processing industry grouped into four areas namely: machinery and equipment industry; food industry; wood and furniture industry and rubber and plastic industry. The public call is published in accordance with the Annual Work Program of the Development Agency of Serbia for the year 2025.The mentoring service is intended for micro, small and medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs and aims to develop business and reduce the number of unsuccessful business entities.Mentoring is a comprehensive process of supporting business entities that are at a crucial moment for development or survival. It represents the joint work of a mentor and a business entity with the aim of overcoming the current situation and finding the most favorable solutions for future business. Through this approach, the business entity receives regular, time-distributed continuous support, in order to achieve the best possible results. Japanese experiences in mentoring have shown that the effects of this type of consulting are far greater than occasional and short-term advice. The methodology determines the steps in the process within which the expert - mentor carries out in direct contact and work with the owner and/or legal representative of the business entity (from 25 to 50 hours per user) and that in the user's premises (not less than 75% of the total number of scheduled hours). The owner and/or legal representative of the business entity and the mentor together study the current business, the reasons for current problems or obstacles to further development, the most important potential for growth, and based on the ascertained situation, the mentor and the user of the mentoring service prepare a development plan/project.The methodology of the standardized mentoring service defines the steps and activities in the implementation of mentoring (management of the scheme, work in the field, number of visits, activities within each visit, time allotted for the preparation of the plan and reporting) through a guide General guide to mentoring.Mentoring consists of the following services:Diagnostics to understand the current situation in the business entity;Help in preparing development activities/plans/projects in order to reach the goals of the business entity;Counseling and coordination for access to funds, new technologies, consulting services and more would encourage development and business improvement;Help in preparing credit applications for banks and support programs for MSMEs;Help in implementing development activities/plans/projects;Help in finding business partners;Help in finding the necessary information;Help in improving the production management process;Support through the introduction KAIZEN methods and tools;Support in improving company marketing;Consulting;Advisory/coaching;Training;CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONMicro, small and medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs who meet the following are eligible to participate in the Program conditions:that they are registered on the territory of the Republic of Serbia on March 10, 2022;that they perform activities within one of the sectors of the processing industry, namely: industry of machinery and equipment; food industry; wood and furniture industry and rubber and plastic industry(Appendix 1 - List of areas and classification activities that are acceptable for candidacy under the Program)​​that they have settled obligations based on taxes and contributions;that they are in majority private ownership;DURATIONThe public call is open until April 10, 2025.The deadline for completing the provision of standardized mentoring services is November 20, 2025. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATIONForm 1- Completed application;Certificate from the competent Tax Administration that the Applicant has paid all public revenues (taxes and contributions) in the previous year, which must not be issued before the date of publication of the public call, or proof that the Applicant has submitted a Request for the issuance of the Certificate; RAS reserves the right to request additional documentation from the competent ARRA for complete applications. FINANCIAL RESOURCESThe total budget for providing a standardized mentoring service amounts to 8,000,000.00 dinars. HOW TO APPLYApplications with all accompanying forms and documentation are submitted in person or by registered mail to accredited regional development agencies (ARRA) with the indication: Application for participation in the Program to provide standardized mentoring services to sectors of the processing industry in 2025. Mentors from ARRA also provides free support in the preparation of documentation for application. Regional Agency for Development and European Integration BelgradeAddress: Toplicin venac 11/4, BelgradeTelephone: 011/2186-730; 011/2186-740E-mail: office@rarei.rswww.rarei.rs Regional Agency for the Development of Eastern Serbia "RARIS"Address: Trg oslobođenja bb, ZaječarPhone: 019/426-376, 019/426-377E-mail: office@raris.orgwww.raris.orgRegional Center for Socio-Economic Development "BANAT"Address: Dr Kornela Radulovića 18, ZrenjaninPhone: 023/510-567, 023/561-064E-mail: office@rcrbanat.rswww.banat.rsCenter for the Development of Jablanica and Pčinj DistrictsAddress: Pana Đukića 42, LeskovacTelephone: 016/315-0115; 016/3150-114 KraljevoPhone: 036/397-777; 036/397-770. 018/515-447E-mail: info@rra-jug.rswww.rra-jug.rs id="">Phone: 031/523-065, 031/510-098E-mail: office@rrazlatibor.rswww.rrazlatibor.co.rsBačka Regional Development AgencyAddress: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 20/II floor, Novi NowPhone: 021/557-781E-mail: office@rda-backa.rswww.rda-backa.rsRegional development agency SremAddress: Glavna 172, RumaPhone: 022/470-910E-mail: office@rrasrem.rswww.rrasrem.rsRegional Development Agency of Sandžak - SEDAAddress: 7. jula bb, Novi PazarPhone: 020/332-700E-mail: office@seda.org.rswww.seda.org.rsRegional Agency for Economic Development of Šumadija and PomoravljeAddress: Kralja Petra I no. 22, KragujevacPhone: 034/302-701; 034/302-702E-mail: officekg@redasp.rswww.redasp.rs Regional Development Agency of Podrinje, Podgorina and RadjevinaAddress: Jovana Cvijića 20, LoznicaTelephone: 015/876-096; 015/875-993E-mail: office@rrappr.rswww.rrappr.rsRegional development agency Braničevo-PodunavljeAddress: Stari korzo 30/3, PožarevacPhone: 012/510-824E-mail: office@rra-bp.rswww.rra-bp.rsRegional Development Agency PANONREGAddress: Trg Cara Jovana Nenada 15, SuboticaPhone: 024/554-107E-mail: office@panonreg.rswww.panonreg.rsRasin District Regional Development Agency d.o.o. KruševacAddress: Trg Kosovskih Junaka 6/5, KruševacPhone: 037/202-336E-mail: office@arrro.rswww.arrro.rsRegional Development Agency "Southern Banat"Address: Karađorđeva no. 4, PančevoPhone: 013/2190-314, 013/2190-315 E-mail: office@rrajuznibanat.rs Vranje id="">THE PUBLIC CALL IS OPEN UNTIL APRIL 10, 2025. The public call, Instructions and accompanying forms are available on the RAS website, www.ras.gov.rs, as well as on the electronic pages and in printed form in ARRA.For more detailed information, you can contact the RAS at the email address: mentoring4sektora2025@ras.gov.rs. Appendix 1 - List of classification activities that are acceptable for candidacy under the Program List of classification activities that are acceptable for candidacy for the Program of providing standardized mentoring services to sectors of the processing industry in 2025. Area 10 - Production of food productsBranch10.1 Processing and preservation of meat and meat products10.2 Processing and preservation of fish, crustaceans and molluscs10.3 Processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables10.4 Production of vegetable and animal oils and fats10.5 Production of dairy products10.6 Production of mill products, starch and starch products10.7 Manufacture of bakery products and pasta10.8 Manufacture of other food products10.9 Manufacture of ready-made animal feed Area 11 - Manufacture of beveragesBranch11.0 Manufacture of beverages Area 16 - Processing of wood and products made of wood, cork, straw and wicker, except furnitureBranches16.1 Sawing and processing of wood16.2 Manufacture of wood, cork, wicker and straw products Area 22 - Manufacture of rubber and plastic productsBranches22.1 Manufacture of rubber products22.2 Manufacture of plastic products Area 27 - Production of electrical equipmentBranch27.1 Production of electric motors, generators, transformers and equipment forelectricity distribution27.2 Production of batteries and accumulators27.3 Production of wire and cable equipment27.4 Production of equipment for lighting27.5 Production of household appliances27.9 Production of other electrical equipment Area 28 - Production of unmentioned machines and unmentioned equipmentBranch28.1 Production of general purpose machines28.2 Production of other general purpose machines28.3 Production of agricultural machinery and forestry28.4 Production of metalworking machines and machine tools28.9 Production of other machines for special purposes Area 31- Furniture productionBranch31.0 Furniture production Supporting documentation1. Text of the Public Invitation2. Instructions for program implementation3. Form 1 - Application4. Form 2 - Evaluation of applications by ARRA5. Form 3 - List of proposed and rejected users 6. Form 4 - Work Plan7. Form 5 - User report