PUBLIC INVITATION for the participation of commercial banks and leasing companies in the implementation of the Small Business Support Program for the purchase of equipment in 2022

The Ministry of Economy in cooperation with the Development Agency of the Republic of Serbia, and with the support of the project "Direct allocation of grants to the Development Agency of Serbia - increased and technologically improved solutions for production capacities among micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurs", financed by the European Union, allocates grants to micro and small enterprises, entrepreneurs and cooperatives for the purchase of production equipment/construction machinery/machines and equipment for the improvement of energy efficiency and ecological aspects of production with the aim of facilitating the financing of procurement equipment and strengthening their competitiveness.

The Ministry of Economy hereby invites all interested banks and leasing companies to apply for participation in the implementation of the program.

The Ministry of Economy has provided funds for the implementation of this program in the amount of 1,900,000,000.00 dinars. In addition to the above, additional funds were provided from the EU pre-accession funds - IPA 19, in the amount of EUR 10,000,000.00. Business entities can exercise the right to grant grants in the amount of up to 25% of the net value of the purchase of production equipment. The amount of approved grant cannot be less than RSD 500,000.00, nor more than RSD 5,000,000.00. The minimum own funds of the company submitting the request amount to 5% of the total net value of the equipment to be purchased, while the rest will be secured from a loan from a commercial bank or a financial lease from a leasing company.

All interested commercial banks and leasing companies that meet the legally established conditions for carrying out activities on the territory of the Republic of Serbia have the right to participate. Banks and leasing companies must also meet the following conditions:

1. That they have submitted complete and correct tender documentation in a timely manner;
2. That they have offered conditions that are in accordance with the provisions of this program;
3. That the indicator of capital adequacy for banks, i.e. the monetary part of capital for leasing companies, is in accordance with the regulations of the NBS;
4. That the bank, i.e. the leasing company, has made a profit in 2021. year;
5. That the NBS did not impose a measure on the leasing company in accordance with the Decision on the detailed conditions and methods of supervision over the performance of the lessor's activities ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 85/2011) i.e. the bank in accordance with the Decision on the detailed conditions and methods of performing bank control and special audit of the bank ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 30/2015 and 1/2020).

Interested banks and leasing companies submit the original or certified photocopies of the following documents:

• completed Annex 1 (form available on the ministry's website);
• form with the signature of the person authorized to represent, who signed Annex 1 (OP form).

Applications are submitted in a sealed envelope marked "Application for Public Call for the participation of commercial banks and leasing companies in the implementation of the Program of support to small businesses for the purchase of equipment in 2022 - DO NOT OPEN" with the sender's full address on the back of the envelope. Untimely and incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application is submitted in person or by registered mail to the address:

Ministry of Economy

Sector for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurship

Kneza Miloša 20

11 000 Belgrade

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 11, 2022.

Binding conditions for all banks and leasing companies interested in participating in the Public Call, as well as the criteria for the selection of banks/leasing companies, are precisely defined in the Support Program for small businesses for the purchase of equipment in 2022.

Text of this program with accompanying text documentation for participation in the Public Call can be downloaded from the following websites:

Ministry of Economy: www.privreda.gov.rs

Development Agencies of Serbia: www.ras.gov.rs

Supporting documentation:

1. Equipment Program Ordinance
2. Public invitation
3. Appendix 1 - for banks
4. Appendix 1 - for leasing companies
5. Short text on information systems
6. Instruction on VAT and customs exemption