National Agency for Regional Development, Serbia

Acronym

RASME

Description

The Republic Agency for the Development Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship (RASME) was founded by the Law on Agency for a Development of Small and Medium-Sized Companies (Službeni glasnik RS, n. 65, from November 11, 2001). The Agency is divided into three key sectors: International Co-operation; Support to SMEs; and Common Affairs.

The basic aim of the RASME is to support (aid, advise, assist, and protect) the development and interests of the SMEs, in:

• Invigoration of the regional economic development and change of the economic structure;

• Solving unemployment problems more efficiently;

• Substitution of import and intensifying SMEs competitiveness;

• Stimulating various forms of cooperation with big enterprises;

• Introducing modern technologies and enhancing innovations (entrepreneurs’ incubators, innovative centres, etc);

• Utilizing business premises and equipment more economically; and

• Quality upgrading; automation and computerization etc.

RASME has predominantly been active in providing legal and financial consulting, as well as training in co-operation with the National Employment Service.The Agency helps SMEs in adapting new technologies in the form of advisory support to their innovative activity.

The main activity of RASME in 2007 was launching new programme, defined as support for start-up of new companies. In total 2507 applications were filled and 1507 start-up loans were approved. RASME continues with similar programmes also in 2008.

The Republic Network for Technical Support to the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurshipwas established with the goal to contribute to the creation of better conditions for SME development in Serbia, as well as strengthening of the Network members.

The Republic Network was established in May 2003, initiated by the Republic Agency for the Development Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship (RASME) in order to gather and link all Regional Agencies/Centres in the country. The Network is not a legal entity, and its members retained their independence and legal entity rights. The Network is open for new members which contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in Serbia.

RASME coordinates the Republic Network consisting of 14 regional agencies and centres for SME development, which cover 85% of the Republic of Serbia (Kosovo and Metohija excluded), i.e. the territory of the City of Belgrade and 19 counties with 130 municipalities in total. Ten regional agencies and centres were established in the period December 2001 - December 2002, supported by the donors: EAR (Kragujevac, Niš, Kruševac, Zaječar, Zrenjanin, Užice and Belgrade), GTZ (Novi Sad and Subotica) and Swiss Development Cooperation SDC (Novi Pazar), as limited liability companies, in accordance with the Company Law ("FRY Official Gazette" no. 29/96, 36/02), whose founders are relevant stakeholders from the regions they cover (local authorities, regional chambers of commerce, associations of entrepreneurs, business associations, banks, institutes, faculties and others). Co-founder in seven regional centres (Zaječar, Zrenjanin, Užice, Belgrade, Kragujevac, Niš and Subotica) is also the Government of the Republic of Serbia. In 2003, a new Agency was established, Regional Agency "Sombor" (covering the region of Zapadno-Bački County), by the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia ("RS Official Gazette" no. 92/03, 105/03). In 2004, two more regional agencies were established with support from the International Labour Organisation ILO (Vranje and Leskovac), as limited liability companies, in accordance with the Company Law ("FRY Official Gazette" no. 29/96, 36/02) whose founders are relevant stakeholders from the regions they cover (as stated above these are local authorities, regional chambers of commerce, associations of entrepreneurs, business associations, banks, institutes, faculties and others). Regional Centre for the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship Šabac Ltd. was established by the local authorities of Mačvanski and Kolubarski Districts, with the aim to develop the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship. The Centre started working on July 2, 2007 with four employees.

Websites of regional and local agencies of RASME:

· Belgrade: www.mspbg.co.yu;

· Kragujevac: www.smerakg.co.yu;

· Kruševac: www.mspks.co.yu;

· Niš: www.ranmsp.co.yu;

· Zrenjanin: www.rcrbanat.co.yu;

· Zaječar: www.msp-timok.co.yu;

· Novi Sad: www.almamons.co.yu;

· NoviPazar: www.seda.org.yu;

· Subotica: www.smer.subotica.info;

· Užice: www.mspue.co.yu;

· Sombor: www.sora.co.yu;