PKS: New support programme for start-ups
A new Support Programme is available as of today for start-ups, intended for newly established entrepreneurs, micro and small enterprises operating for no longer than 36 months, or 48 months if the majority owner is a woman, as well as for individuals planning to start their own business.
This was announced at the signing of an agreement between the Serbian Foundation for Entrepreneurship and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS). The aim of the Support Programme for start-ups is to create a stimulating environment for the development of entrepreneurship, encourage sustainable business ideas and generate new jobs in Serbia.
Through a combination of financial and non-financial measures, the programme provides comprehensive support to all those starting or developing a business.
“Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs make up 99.8 per cent of Serbia’s economy and employ almost two-thirds of those working in the non-financial sector, contributing 56.9 per cent to GDP. This is a good indicator, but there is still room for growth and a need for stronger support,” said the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež.
As he emphasised, the new Support Programme for start-ups is focused on encouraging entrepreneurship, self-employment and the creation of new jobs, while the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, as an implementation partner, will provide expert support in preparing business and investment plans and in implementing incentive loans.
The Director of the Serbian Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Aleksandar Grabovac, stated that support for start-ups is one of the foundation’s key priorities.
“Through this programme, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, it is planned that by the end of 2026, around 800 beneficiaries will undergo training aimed at developing the skills needed for successfully starting and running their own business. In this way, we further strengthen institutional support and create more favourable conditions for the development of entrepreneurship in Serbia,” said Grabovac.
Within the Programme, in addition to advisory support and free training delivered by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, beneficiaries will also have access to financial incentives through loans from partner banks of up to 30,000 euros, as well as grants of up to 20 per cent of the loan amount, or a maximum of 3,000 euros, for users who repay the loan regularly and continue their business operations.
The Programme represents a continuation of the activities of the Government of Serbia aimed at improving the entrepreneurial environment, implemented in cooperation with international partners, with the support of the Government of Germany and the German development bank KfW.
The partner banks participating in the implementation of the Programme are Halkbank, ProCredit Bank, 3Bank, Erste Bank, NLB Komercijalna Banka and OTP Banka.
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