USAID Serbia and Montenegro
Civil Society Grants (Serbia): USAID assisted 160 Civil Society organizations with $5.2 million in 2.5yrs to better represent the needs of ordinary people & become more influential partners with businesses and government in the democratic process. | Media (Serbia): USAID media assistance has contributed to more independent, professional and financially viable media outlets and media associations. The regulatory environment now better supports the development of e-media; 2,000+ media professionals trained. | Court Reform (Serbia): U.S. assistance helped increase independence and the professional skills of judges, magistrates and prosecutors; provided legal assistance to victims of war crimes and human rights abuses. | Local governments (Serbia): Through work with a wide geographic spread of municipalities, local governments are now more responsive: 30+ Citizen Assistance Centers, E-government in 80+ Municipalities. | Youth (Serbia): Junior Achievement in 90 schools in 2009. USAID supports efforts of the Ministry of Youth/Sports to better prepare youth for post-graduation work opportunities. | Agribusiness (Serbia): Serbian companies assisted made $16.7m in registered sales in 2008. Recent trade shows expected to bring over $17m in contracts. | Local Economic growth (Serbia): Municipalities in USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity attracted over 800m Euro in investments and created over 11,000 jobs in two years by becoming more business friendly; 270 new businesses opened; 26 Local Economic Development offices set up to actively attract investments. | Commercial Courts (Serbia) have become more efficient and transparent with Case Management Systems in all 16 courts and the High Commercial Court. Case backlogs cut drastically. | Compete Project (Serbia): Helping to bring Serbian companies back into world market – leading directly to $20.5m in 2008 exports. Helping to introduce International Industry standards that allow companies to compete in the global marketplace. Attracted major film productions and millions in investments. | Support to companies (Serbia) in vulnerable areas increased their competitiveness. 2008 sales at trade/shows fairs for assisted companies up 42%. | Economic systems (Serbia): Helped introduce: VAT; private pensions; investment funds; sound insurance industry, bankruptcy and enforcement and modern payment systems. | Opportunity Bank (Serbia) loans created 5,000+ new jobs and ensured 40,000+ existing jobs were kept. Only lender for vulnerable people who have little access to credit. | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (Serbia): Civil Society activities have brought together 14 major companies and an array of NGOs to establish culture of CSR. | Preparedness Planning (Serbia): USAID works with all levels of government to improve disaster risk reduction, trained 675 responders from 50 Municipalities on disaster management. |
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    Competitiveness Project

    The USAID Competitiveness Project is a four-year, $14.7 million initiative launched in October 2007 to promote economic growth by substantially increasing the competitiveness of Serbian SMEs in leading sectors to increase sales, exports, investment and jobs.

    Sectors: Based on the findings from a study of 12 sectors in Serbia, the Project identified sectors with the greatest potential to compete in international markets: ICT, tourism, film and production, construction services, auto parts, wood processing and furniture, renewable energy. The Project reinforces the competitiveness of sectors through policy reforms, workforce development, and communications efforts. The Project is undertaking both transactional and transformational activities to meet these objectives. Transactional activities include targeted sales and marketing efforts, e.g. trade shows, market research, B2B meetings, direct negotiations, while transformational activities seek to enhance the long-term competitiveness of a sector, e.g. supporting firms to attain international certifications and standards; building industry groups/associations to advocate on behalf of a sector; implementing workforce development initiatives that build technical skills needed; and international branding efforts to increase awareness of the benefits of investing in Serbia.

    Results to date include:

    · Film and Production: The Project has developed the “Film in Serbia” promotional campaign and website (www.filminserbia.com); facilitated establishment of the Serbian Film Commission focused on bringing foreign productions to the country; and supported Serbian production companies to attend the key trade shows. These activities contracted deals of $20 million, with contracts worth over $50 million pending.

    · Tourism:Supporting development of the Convention and Meetings industry through branding, training, and trade shows. Working with the Serbian Convention Bureau and industry partners in marketing Serbia as the host to international meetings and events. These activities have resulted in $17 million in revenue.

    · Construction Services: Facilitated the establishment of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia (ACES), now member of International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), worldwide organization for internationally recognized standards in managing construction projects. Adherence to FIDIC standards will make Serbian companies more competitive when bidding on local and regional projects.

    · Wood Processing and Furniture: Work with Serbian producers to expand their customer base in targeted EU markets and, in cooperation with Belgrade Design Week, implemented a sustainable design competition to promote commercialization of Serbian designs. Exports in these sectors have totaled $700,000.

    · Renewable Energy:Initiated a public awareness campaign on the benefits of biomass and introduced an access to finance program to facilitate the purchases of boilers and pellets for home heating. Advocates for development of the legislative framework to facilitate investment in the sector. Results to date include a $9 million investment in a pellet manufacturing plant in Serbia.

    · Policy Reforms: Supporting a campaign that seeks to identify and remove  the leading bureaucratic and administrative barriers to SME growth, that has resulted in the introduction of one-stop shops for registering a firm and cuts the registration time from the current six days to 24 hours.

    · Workforce Development: Supported the first CISCO Entrepreneur Institute in Southeast Europe. Awareness raising of the importance of University Career Centers and internships as a link between education and the private sector.

    Key Numbers:

    • Exports and Investments of $60 million facilitated by the Project to date
    • More than 330 internships created
    • 600 participants in training in sales and marketing, market research, and management (56% women)
    • 317 articles in local and international press on the Project and Serbian sectors.

    The Project is implemented by Booz Allen Hamilton. For more info, please see: http://www.compete.rs