Twenty-two young people from 14 municipalities in South East and South West Serbia will launch their businesses with the support of the European Union and the Swiss Government, which have allocated EUR 183,307 through the European PROGRES development program for activities aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship among the youth. Young entrepreneurs who plan to engage in business activities in the fields of information technology and design, clothing manufacturing, fruit and vegetable processing and preservation, among others, will receive equipment for the start-up of their businesses.
„The European Union and the Swiss Government have supported young people from Programme municipalities to develop their business ideas and establish their own businesses, which will have a positive effect not only on their lives and the lives of their families, but on the local economy as well. In such a manner, young entrepreneurs will make an excellent example for their peers, and all together we contribute to the resolution of the problem of unemployment in this population segment," said Graeme Tyndall, European PROGRES Programme Manager.
„Starting up my own business has been my goal ever since I completed education, and my intention is to include other young people from my town in this creative business," said Nikola Cvetković from Vranje, who will start his own business with the support of European PROGRES, dealing with printing on textiles.
During the Call for Proposals, European PROGRES organized nine info sessions that brought together over 200 participants, and 92 applications were received for this CfP.
„There is certainly no shortage of ideas among the youth, but it is necessary to encourage them and support them, and support is especially important at the beginning because starting your own business is an important step in a young person’s life," said Ana Nedeljkovic, Manager of the European PROGRES Sector for Good Governance and Social Inclusion. She added that the Programme would provide training and mentoring to future young entrepreneurs at the beginning of their business operations in the areas of business management, marketing and planning with a view to ensuring the sustainability of their business.
The registration of new companies and the procurement of equipment will begin in October 2016.
A list of approved projects is available on the website of European PROGRES http://www.europeanprogres.org/konten/sr/500/.
