The Ministry of Economy and the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) will implement several programs this year to address the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. If all of them are realized and used, at least 76 million euros will be invested in the Serbian economy, the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia (PKS) announced.
The total amount of non-refundable funds from the budget, which is planned for the implementation of four support programs, is 16.6 million euros.
Out of that, 12.9 million euros refer to the “Program for support to small and medium enterprises for the purchase of equipment”, 1.6 million euros, are intended for the “Program for development projects”, and 1.25 million euros go to the “Program for support for business beginners”.
To support women, beginners in business, it is planned to allocate 833 thousand euros in non-refundable funds from the budget.
At the end of the first quarter, small and medium enterprises will be able to apply for funds for the purchase of new production equipment, and subsidies will be up to 25 percent of the net value of equipment purchase, companies will provide five percent, and the rest will be loans or leasing.
In 2021, the economy will be able to apply for the Program of support to companies for entering the supply chains of multinational companies.
Companies from the automotive industry, manufacturers of devices and components for the automotive industry, companies engaged in metal processing, the sector of machinery and equipment for other purposes, rubber and the plastic sector will be able to compete there.
Among other things, the digitalization of production will be co-financed, and the public call, as it is stated, will be announced at the beginning of the second quarter of 2021.
At the beginning of the second quarter, an invitation is expected to participate in the MSME Export Promotion Support Program, and the target group is micro, small and medium-sized companies operating in the food industry and furniture production sector.
The Development Fund plans to invest 155.8 million euros in various programs to support the domestic economy during 2021.
For financial support to startup companies in Serbia, in combination with non-refundable aid (30 percent / 70 percent) and loans from the Development Fund, 4.16 million euros will be placed.
Startup loans for women’s entrepreneurship are planned as a combination of a grant (35 percent / 65 percent) and a loan from the Development Fund in the amount of 2.3 million euros.
Financial support for development projects / investments in the economy for entrepreneurs, micro and small legal entities planned in the form of a combination of grants (20 percent / 80 percent) and loans from the Fund, 1.6 million euros will be grants, and 6.6 million euros loans from the Development Fund.
For long-term loans intended for micro, small, medium enterprises and large economic entities, 4.16 million euros are planned for permanent working capital.
30 million euros are planned from the investment loans of the European Investment Bank, as well as 110 million euros for loans intended for liquidity during the pandemic and loans intended for tourism, catering and transport, Nova Ekonomija reports.
