€ 1.33 million for exporting companies from SIEPA - Ten companies from Serbia to open branches abroad

Foreign Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) awarded, with the assistance of the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, 133.1 million dinars in grants for 169 companies and eight associations in the eleventh round of Financial Support Program to Exporters.

The amount of funds allocated from 200,000 to 2 million dinars per enterprise, and 20 million per association, depending on activity.

Most of the money was awarded for individual participation of companies in international exhibitions (35 million dinars), then for certification of quality management systems (20 million dinars), while for strengthening of marketing capacity there was allocated a total of 17.5 million dinars. In addition, the companies have received funding for the certification of products, market research and performance of companies at "bussines to bussines" events.

For the first time this year, there were funds awarded for opening offices abroad, a total of 11.8 million dinars for 10 companies.

"Forma Ideale", "Gomma Line", "St. George", "Alevi", "MFC Mikrokomerc", "PStech", "Kodar Engineering", "Soft White City", "High Tech Engineering Center" and "Novatronic" got the money to open businesses abroad. Apart from them, and the Association "ASSTEX" will be presented outside the borders of Serbia.

Kragujevac-based furniture manufacturer "Forma Ideale", manufacturer of auto parts "Gomma Line" and Association "ASSTEX" will open companies in Russia. "Alevi" is openning representative office in Moscow, "MFC Mikrokomerc" in Montenegro, "PStech", "High Tech Engineering Center", "Soft White City" in America, and "St. George" in Germany.

"Kodar engineering", which is specialized in designing, engineering, installation and maintenance of telecommunication systems, will open its representative office in Macedonia.

Projects in the Information Technology Industry received the most money (22.6 million dinars), and in electronics and electrical engineering (15.8), Food and Beverages (13.9), and the automobile industry (8.9), textile (7.7), processing, furniture (6.1) and others.

Mila Litvinenko, president of the company "Aura", which is among the recipients of funds, said that in her opinion this was the best program in Serbia.

- The only future of the Serbian economy is manufacturing and marketing of products outside the country. It is necessary to bring foreign money into Serbia - said Litvinenko for "eKapija".

For the maximum amount of allocated funds, the organizers of the Program of Support determined 50% of eligible costs for the implementation of defined activities.

- According to our knowledge, all who applied were given the 50% or the prescribed maximum. Thus, SIEPA and the Ministry showed that indeed they want to support exporters. For our company, this is a big help - says Marko Despotovic, marketing manager of "Kosta Antic" company.

The non-refundable financial support primarily was designed for successful small and medium enterprises that produce goods and provide services for export, currently do not have greater representation on the market abroad, but have the potential and good business projects to achieve - said Bozidar Laganin, SIEPA's CEO.

He urged the companies which haven't done it by now, to respond to other public invitation to be released during August. Exporters in the second round will be allocated another 40 million.

Where are Serbian products sold?

"Techno-Al Marinkovic" from Jagodina, company for production of PVC and aluminum joinery, exports to Sweden and France. 700,000 dinars was allocated to the company for the improvement of marketing and participation in international fairs.

Belgrade "ELITAS" advertising machinery and equipment exports to countries in the region, mainly Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. For product certification, they received 250,000 dinars grants.

"Sirogojno Company" will use the 300,000 dinars for participation in the fair Anuga 2011, the largest fair of food products in the world, which will be held in October in Cologne. This company sells frozen and dried fruits and frozen vegetables, in all European Union countries, but also in New Zealand and Australia.

Company for production of metal products "Kosta Antic" from Stalac is the exporter in the region, primarily Bulgaria and Romania. They plan to expand the export market to the EU countries, and they believe that the funds received for the certification of products will help with that.

"Aura" wants to go to Russia

The company "Aura", sells cosmetics in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania and Norway. For the improvement of marketing activities (making a brochure on foreign languages) were given 300,000 dinars.

- After intensive negotiating with partners from Russia, we should soon begin export of our products there. The Russian market is the dream of all entrepreneurs, but it is very specific, and one should be ready for it. We are not afraid of any quantity or circulation, we are actively preparing, and we believe that we will achieve successful cooperation with the Russians, and increase profits of the company - says for "eKapija", Mila Litvinenko, CEO in "Aura".