BACKGROUND

To bolster its economy and meet EU accession requirements, Serbia must restructure and privatize many of its state-owned enterprises. The Serbian Government’s program for companies in the restructuring process encompasses more than 500 companies in different phases of privatization. It is expected that approximately 30,000 workers will accept the program and take the severance pay (maximum amount 8,000 EUR). 

“The New Beginning” is an 18-month project implemented by Serbian Association of Managers (SAM) and DNA Communications. The activity will focus on regions with the largest numbers of laid-off workers and will motivate them to use their knowledge and resources to start their own business.  The experiences of the previous severance programs clearly show that redundant workers have a lack of knowledge about how to start their own businesses and about entrepreneurship. This project will give them an opportunity for a “new beginning” by starting their own business.

ACTIVITIES

To achieve this goal, the project will provide training and information to approximately 30,000 laid-off workers on the process of starting a new business, reducing risk, accessing finance, and analyzing the market. The project will develop a registry of entrepreneurship opportunities-- a catalog searchable by industry, size of investment, and geographical area. It will also connect potential entrepreneurs with established businesses, providing the groundwork for future partnership and support. Additionally, it will work with local governments, businesses, business associations, and other civil society groups to develop the support new entrepreneurs need to get started. 

Project funded by:

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Serbia)

Project implemented by:

Serbian Association of Managers (SAM) and DNA Communications

Key counterparts:

Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, National Employment Service and Serbian Chamber of Commerce

Where we work:

Nationwide

Project duration:

February 2015 – July 2016

Total amount:  $341,606

USAID contribution:  $269,606

SAM contribution: $72,000

Contact:

Smiljanićeva 24/III

11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Phone: +381 11 308 7605

E-mail:  office@sam.org.rs

Website:   www.novipocetak.rs