Public call for participation in the program of providing standardized mentoring services to sectors of the processing industry

The public call for participation in the program of providing standardized mentoring services to sectors of the manufacturing industry is published in accordance with the Program of the Development Agency of Serbia with the aim of improving the business environment and supporting the development of MSMEs within the sector of the manufacturing industry grouped into four areas:

the machinery and equipment industry, the food industry, the wood and furniture industry, and the rubber and plastic industry.

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

The right to participate in the Program has micro, small and medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs who meet the following conditions:

• that they were registered on the territory of the Republic of Serbia before April 2016;
• to perform activities within one of the sectors of the processing industry grouped into four areas: machinery and equipment industry, food industry, wood and furniture industry and the rubber and plastic industry;
• that they have settled their tax and contribution obligations;
• that they are majority privately owned.

DURATION

The deadline for completing the provision of the standardized mentoring service is November 20, 2019.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Documentation that must be submitted when applying for the Public Call:

1. Form 1 - completed application
2. Certification from the competent Tax Administration that the Applicant has settled all public revenues (taxes and contributions) in the previous year, which must not be issued before the date of publication of the public call (original or copy) or a tax return for the final determination of tax on income from self-employment and contributions for mandatory social security for the year 2018 (form PPDG-1S).

The Development Agency of Serbia reserves the right to, if necessary, request additional documentation from the Applicant, but only for complete submitted applications.

APPLICATION METHOD

Applications with all accompanying forms and documentation are submitted in person or by registered mail. ARRA with indication: Application for participation in the Program of providing standardized mentoring services to sectors of the processing industry.

The mentoring process takes place according to the RAS methodology, developed in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The methodology determines the steps in the process in which a professional person-mentor conducts a certain number of mentoring hours (from 25 to 50 per user) in direct contact and work with the owner and/or legal representative of the business entity 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. guides: General Guide for Mentoring, Guide for Mentoring for Beginners and Guide for Mentoring Mature Enterprises.

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;
• Advice and coordination for access funds, new technologies, consulting services and others in order to encourage the development and improvement of business;
• Help in preparing loan 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;
• Kaizen;
• Consulting;
• Counseling/coaching;
• Training;
• Reference to appropriate specialized consultants.

The public call is open until April 19, 2019.

You can find accompanying documentation and other information about the Program HERE