The "Serbia and the EU - Equipment for the Economy" Program was presented - 3.1 billion in grants for Serbian businessmen

Regional Agency for Development and European Integration Belgrade doo (RAREI Belgrade) realized on 06.20.2022. in the premises of the City Municipality of Savski venac, the promotion of the Small Business Support Program for the purchase of equipment in 2022.

The program is implemented by the Ministry of Economy, the Development Agency of Serbia and selected banks and leasing companies, and support in the implementation of the program is provided by accredited regional development agencies.

The attendees were addressed by Snežana Radinović, director of RAREI Belgrade, Oliver Šarov, senior adviser for European integration and the economy of the EU Delegation in Serbia, as well as Katarina Aksentijević from the Development Agency of Serbia.

Director Snežana Radinović pointed out that For two decades, RAREI Belgrade has been the key bearer of the development processes of the city of Belgrade as a European region. In the past twenty years, RAREI Belgrade provided strong support to the MSME sector in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, the Development Agency of Serbia and the Development Fund. Over 30,000 clients received some form of support from RAREI Belgrade, over 1,300 trainings were held for more than 15,000 participants, mentoring services were provided for more than 80 economic entities. The European Union, as the largest donor in the Republic of Serbia, allocates significant financial resources for the development of the MSME sector. The program for the purchase of equipment is only one of the programs through which small businesses will be able to purchase additional equipment that is important for the growth and development of companies. "We hope that you who are present here today, with the support of RAREI Belgrade, will be able to adequately prepare the application and provide additional financial resources for the growth and development of your company" - said director Snežana Radinović.

Oliver Šarov, representative of the EU Delegation in Serbia, pointed out that the EU through the program "Serbia and the EU - EQUIPMENT FOR THE ECONOMY", as well as through other projects and programs implemented by the EU in Serbia, wants to provide support for increasing the competitiveness of the micro and small businesses, so that they, through the improvement of production capacities, would become as competitive as possible not only on the domestic market but also on the EU market. Mr. Šarov pointed out that it is important for the EU that Serbian businessmen should be as present as possible on the EU market and called on them to use the opportunity offered to them through this Program in the right way and provide additional funds for the growth and development of their companies.

Katarina Aksentijević, representative of the Development Agency of Serbia, called on the businessmen to be efficient, due to the great interest in this Program, and to prepare documentation as soon as possible and submit it to commercial banks and leasing companies. Mrs. Aksentijević pointed out that businessmen in this process can also use RAREI Belgrade's advisory services, which are completely free for them, and that, if they have any doubts about applying for this program, they should contact the Development Agency of Serbia and RAREI Belgrade.

At the event, RAREI Belgrade presented in detail the Small Business Support Program for the purchase of equipment, which includes a combination of grants (up to 25% of the net value of the equipment), the company's own participation (up to 5%) net value of the equipment) and a favorable loan from selected commercial banks and leasing companies (up to 70% of the net value of the equipment).