LEDIB CO – FINANCE 14 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN 11 MUNICIPALITIES
22.07.2011
In the second open call for development projects through the Program of Local Development in the Balkans – LEDIB, ten municipalities: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina i Razanj, city municipalities Palilula, Red Cross, Medijana, Niska Banja, Pantelej and City of Nis, signed agreements with LEDIB. The total value of 14 contracts, signed with 11 local government units is 283.000,00 Euros with the financial participation of municipalities of the minimum 10 up to 50 encourages funding. At the ceremony, which on this occasion was held at the summer stage in the Fortress, LEDIB representatives and municipal representatives – coordinators of activities, the media talked about beginning of the activity and content of the approved projects.

According to Carsten Lund, director of LEDIB, activities supported projects will contribute to building local capacity and create condition for faster economic development of small and medium enterprises. Accordingly, LEDIB program will provide technical and financial support for the implementation of approved proposals from the activities that will contribute to achieving these goals.

The needs are different, but all share the word development. So in Niska Banja think that we should turn to youth and offer them all the tourist facilities available. And in Doljevac think on tourism, especially since the industry is perhaps the least developed in the municipality. City Municipality of Palilula had the privilege to win the support of LEDIB for two projects. One of them is “The formation of the Project Center Palilula”, while the second aimed at “Establishing synergistic dialogue between Serbian and Bulgarian entrepreneurs / SMEs and professional organizations to develop a sustainable exchange of experience”. Establishment of the Project center will enable providing services for SMEs operating on territory of City Municipality of Palilula in the area of strategic planning and project management application, the existing EU funds and other foreign and domestic investors, whose funds were intended for precisely the development of SMEs – said Boban Mikic, project coordinator in the Municipality and member of Municipal Council. Services that will be provided to SMEs by Project center will follow new trends in business and will help to the companies to improve their business. Also, by assisting in the preparation of strategic documents and applying for funds, the SME sector will be more available funds necessary for the development and improvement of business.      

 The projects are particularly important for poor municipalities like Niska Banja, Gadzin Han, Dojevac, Razanj, which will invest its resources in economic and tourism infrastructure. LEDIB in first call funded 17 projects. Now their number is slightly smaller, but much better than two years ago – sail Zarko Simovic, coordinator of the components, context and background LED/SME development. Depending on the complexity of the project, the results will be visible in the short or long term. In LEDIB first results expected by the end of the current year or early next year.