The signing of Memorandum of Understanding took place on March 19th, 2008 with Union of Engineering-Technical Organisations Nis and LEDIB Programme representatives.


 
The Partners will work on improving the professional business environment for SMEs in the Nisava District in Serbia. As agreed, cooperation between the Partners is going to be operational at least till 2012 - the completion of the LEDIB Programme.
 
Union of Engineering-Technical Organizations Nis is sectorial business organisation which collects mainly architects and civil engineers. Together with other business organizations/associations in Nisava District, Union of Engineering-Technical Organisations Nis will be supported by LEDIB through the development of 30+ projects aimed at improving the capacity of the business organizations.

LEDIB Expert Team will coordinate and work on the implementation of all activities under LEDIB Programme by developing project proposals, certified training programmes for BOs, twinning arrangements, study tours and visits, support for organization of fairs and exhibitions, database creation, etc.

The meeting was recorded by regional media (TV stations “Kopernikus” cable network, “NTV”, “Belle Amie”, press “Narodne Novine”).



Signatories of Memorandum of Understanding:
1.    Mr. Miomir Zivkovic, President of Management Board, Union of Engineering-Technical Organisations
2.    Mr. Zoran Zlatkovic, Member of Management Board, Union of Engineering-Technical Organisations
3.    Mr. Carsten Lund, Programme Coordinator, LEDIB Programme
4.    Mr. Finn Clausen Krogh, International SME Development Expert, LEDIB Programme


The Local Economic Development in the Balkans LEDIB programme is a five-year programme for support to local economic development with a focus on development of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Sector, financed by the Neighbourhood Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark.

The LEDIB subcomponent 1.2 ‘Improved Advocacy of Business Organisations’ with a budget of  EUR 0.6 million will support activities targeted at strengthening the capacity of business organizations to undertake advocacy and influence public policies in favour of enabling business environment, and engage in public-private dialogue on how to achieve local economic development in the Nisava District.

The LEDIB subcomponent 1.2 is a fully integrated part of the other LEDIB subcomponents: Improved Services of Local Public Administration, Cluster Development, BDS Providers, and Better Access to Affordable Credit.

The main function of Partners will be to ensure better business environment for SMEs in the Nisava District in Serbia. Cooperation between the Partners is expected to be operational at least till 2012.

LEDIB Programme Experts will coordinate the implementation of all activities under the LEDIB subcomponent 1.2 based on an overall cooperation of the representatives of the Union of Engineering-Technical Organisations Nis.

Support activities will include Certificated Trainings programmes for BO, Seminars, Conferences, Study tours and visits, Twinning, B2B matchmaking, Certification, Support to Joint venture and license production, Cluster support, Introduction to EU directives and standards, Export promotion, Innovation promotion, Creation of affordable credit line, Support to organization of fairs and exhibitions, Database creation.