LINK UP! SERBIA II - project realization started
We are pleased to inform you that the realization of the Link Up ! Serbia II project, funded
by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), with funds from the Austrian
Development Cooperation (ADC) in the amount of 1,669.454 million euros, has begun. The project deals with the development of business cooperation with the Serbian diaspora through investment support, partnerships between companies from the diaspora and domestic small and medium enterprises, and support to local governments in presenting investment potentials.
The project represents the second phase, launched on the basis of research and development of cooperation between the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Serbian diaspora in Austria, as well as proposals from regional development agencies in Serbia and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
ICMPD is an international organization specializing in migration policies. ICMPD is headquartered in Vienna. The Republic of Serbia is one of the eighteen members of the ICMPD. In cooperation with the Republic of Serbia and with the support of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), ICMPD has been active for three years on the topic of the Serbian diaspora in Austria, through the so-called first phase Link Up! project.
Research in the first phase showed that there is a growing interest of the diaspora to invest in Serbia and to support domestic small and medium enterprises in internationalization. The planned activities within this project are designed to enable the Serbian diaspora to invest more easily and connect with business partners in Serbia, and to help local governments to present investment opportunities and business conditions in their communities in the right way.
ICMPD is also implementing the second phase of the project. In the second phase, the national partner in the project is the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, while the implementing partners are the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS), the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and 6 regional development agencies: RAREI (Belgrade), RDA Branicevo - Podunavlje (Pozarevac), Center for the development of Jablanica and Pcinja districts (Leskovac), RDA South (Nis), REDASP (Kragujevac) and RARIS (Zajecar).
The geographical focus in Serbia is Belgrade, Sumadija and Pomoravlje districts, Branicevo and Podunavlje, Zajecar and Bor districts, Nis district, and Jablanica and Pcinj districts.
The focus in the diaspora is on the first and second generations of the diaspora in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
The first activities on the project include mapping the direct investments of the diaspora in the territory covered by the project. An important role in this process is played by local governments, which can provide available basic data on the diaspora and investments from the diaspora, on the basis of which the next step will be detailed research and programming of further support to investors and local governments.
The project activities further include technical support to the municipalities and cities with the most represented diaspora activity. This primarily means creating a database of investment projects and creating a package of promotional materials for investment opportunities and potentials.
We hope for your support and active participation in all phases of the project!
