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 2023

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 total funds provided for the implementation of this program from the budget of the Republic of Serbia and from the EU - IPA 19 pre-accession funds are in the amount of about 1,400,000,000.00 dinars. 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 documents in a timely manner;
2. that they have offered conditions that are in accordance with the 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 acts of the NBS;
4. that the bank or leasing company has achieved a positive financial result with the balance as of today 30.09.2022. ;
5. that the NBS did not impose a measure on the leasing company in accordance with the Decision on the detailed conditions and method of performing supervision over the activities of the lessor ("Official Gazette of the RS", no. 85/11) i.e. the bank in accordance with the Decision on the detailed conditions and method of performing bank control and special audit of the bank ("Official Gazette of the RS", no. 30/15 and 1/20).

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

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

Applications are submitted in a small sealed envelope marked "Application for the Public Call for the participation of banks and leasing companies in the implementation of the Business Support Program for procurement of equipment in 2023 - 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

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS IS JULY 25, 2023.

The 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 2023.

The text of this program with accompanying documentation for participation in the Public Call can be downloaded online pages:

Ministry of Economy: www.privreda.gov.rs

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

Entrepreneurship portal: www.preduzetnistvo.gov.rs

Supporting documentation:

Text of the Public Invitation for Banks and Leasing companies

Appendix 1 for banks

Appendix 1 for leasing companies

Decree on Establishing the SME Support Program for Equipment Procurement in 2023

Short text about the information system