Foreign Aid

10) 5 IPARD calls expected in 2020

January 28th, 2020, http://subvencije.rs/vesti/ipard-u-2020-godini-sta-mozemo-da-ocekujemo/

The Ministry of Agriculture plans to announce five public calls from the European Union (EU) IPARD assistance program this year, with incentives expected to total approximately EUR 57.6 million. The first call is expected be for rural tourism and should be published in March. If approved the by the European Commission, support from IPARD under this measure will be available for the construction and improvement of facilities for rural tourism, the purchase of new equipment and furniture and the construction, reconstruction and equipping of facilities for tourist and catering services. Other calls this year are expected to be for: technical assistance in the implementation of the IPARD program itself; the provision of tractors for farmers, cooperatives and small- and medium-sized enterprises; the construction of storage facilities, farms and greenhouses; and the procurement of equipment for orchards and vineyards.

11) Serbia’s first food accelerator program finding success

January 24th, 2020, http://www.agronews.rs/kvalitetna-domaca-hrana-na-svetskom-trzistu-uz-pomoc-foodscale-hub-a/

Serbia’s first accelerator program for food companies (including startups) has helped several quality Serbian food products reach new export markets and add a value of close to EUR 1 million in less than a year. Foodscale Hub aims to help develop “Serbia” as a geographical brand that is synonymous with quality for consumers in number of important markets, including Germany, Norway and the U.S. Noting the potential for exporting quality Serbian food products, Foodscale Hub hopes to help them obtain important knowledge regarding processing and packaging, access finance and make contacts in the strategic markets. To this end, the accelerator is dedicated to helping each company it works with develop a unique concept tailored to their specific context.

12) EBRD invests record EUR 516 million in Serbia in 2019

January 16th, 2020, https://www.ebrd.com/news/2020/ebrd-invests-record-516-million-in-serbia-in-2019.html

In 2019, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recorded a record level of activity in Serbia, signing 20 new projects worth a total investment of EUR 516 million. Most of these projects are aimed at helping private sector development, especially the green economy. Project highlights include:

• EUR 226.2 million in credit lines to commercial financial institutions for on-lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector • Training and advisory support for women entrepreneurs • Financing to rehabilitate a 40-year old landfill • EUR 15 million to finance the rehabilitation and construction of irrigation infrastructure • Assistance in preparing a national irrigation strategy • Support to over 600 households in improving their energy efficiency • Financing to develop two wind farms

Since Serbia joined forces with EBRD in 2001, the bank has invested more than EUR 5.6 billion across 255 projects in the country.