During the first day of the visit by Deputy Heads of Missions of the European Union (EU) member states to South East Serbia, Oskar Benedikt, the Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, said in Knjaževac that the EU would continue to support the social and economic development of this part of the country so that young people could have better opportunities for both education, and living and working in their communities.
„In the EU countries, the sector of small- and medium-sized enterprises constitutes a pillar of the economy and generates 85 percent of jobs, so the support to small business is investment into the future of the entire business community in Serbia," said Benedikt during a tour of the company "Kran Projekt", which has received, with the support of the EU and the Swiss Government, a modern metal processing machine worth 14,650 Euros.
According to the people from "Kran Projekt", the new machine with computer numerical control (CNC) has increased their productivity, efficiency in production and made them more competitive in the market, while they have also hired three employees.
This Knjaževac company is just one out of 17 companies from the southeast and southwest of Serbia, which have been supported by donors of the development programme European PROGRES with 253,880 Euros in total, with a view to boosting production and creating new jobs. As one of the prerequisites for the selection of these projects was the willingness of companies to implement socially responsible activities that should contribute to the wider community, "Kran Projekt" has supported the organization of three workshops on environmental protection, and financed the construction of a playground for children, whose opening ceremony was also attended by a delegation of deputy ambassadors of European countries.
„I hope that this will be an example of good practice to be followed by other companies because it shows that business and the local community go hand in hand when it comes to development," said Benedikt at the opening of the playground. He added that this was another example of cooperation and partnership in action, since "Kran Projekt", supported by the EU and the Government of Switzerland, has improved its business performance, created jobs, and the youngest inhabitants of Knjaževac, owing to the donations of this local company, have a safe place to play and learn how to protect the environment.
„Thanks to the engagement of the local self-government, this area is after a few years finally utilised, and with the donation of the company "Kran Projekt", our children have a new playground," said President of the Municipality Milan Äokić and expressed his gratitude to the European Union for the support it provides to the economic and infrastructure development of Knjaževac.
„During the workshops, children in three Knjaževac schools found out about the process of waste disposal, recycling, and the most important thing is that they have learned that for a healthy tomorrow we have to begin with ourselves," said Ivan Svetozarević of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) "Green Zone" with which the company "Kran Projekt" implemented the project.
The delegation comprising Deputy Heads of the missions of European countries also visited the imperial palace Felix Romuliana in Gamzigrad near Zaječar, the site which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The EU has allocated almost 600,000 Euros for this site through the HERA project "Sustainable tourism management of Adriatic HERitage”, for the purpose of equipping a multimedia centre with modern computer and holographic video equipment, and the works have also been completed on the three towers that serve as showrooms and a space for hologram-based introduction to how Felix Romuliana looked like at its peak. From its funds, the EU also supported the project "Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route” which includes Gamzigrad and Rajac breweries.
