Podgorica, 1 March 2022

Projects Supporting Small Businesses Worth 193,000 Euros Started

At least 70 small businesses will be supported by improving marketing and negotiation skills, introducing innovative approaches to the technological process, improving business communication, project management, finance, and leadership. digitalization, as well as the promotion of best practices for quality, safety, and trust in the production of small businesses through the implementation of relevant ISO standards.

Five projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness of small businesses in Montenegro through their transformation, supported by the Kingdom of Norway with 193,000 euros through the project "Norway for you - Montenegro", began today with the signing of a grant agreement for business support entities.

These projects will be implemented by entities that support the development of small businesses in cooperation with municipalities, which will improve the business of at least 70 small businesses by improving marketing and negotiation skills, introducing innovative approaches to the technological process, improving business communication, project management, finance, and leadership. digitalization, as well as the promotion of best practices for quality, safety, and trust in the production of small businesses through the implementation of relevant ISO standards.

The Head of the Directorate for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Ministry of Economic Development, Ivana Zečević, expressed her satisfaction with the beginning of the projects financed by the Kingdom of Norway. She mentioned that the Ministry of Economic Development has adopted a 2022 Programme to improve competitiveness, for which a public call will soon be published, within which financial and non-financial support for small businesses will be provided.

Project Manager "Norway for you - Montenegro" Armen Čekić reminded that the projects were selected within the Public Call for Support to Small Businesses, which was open from 1 November to 12 December 2021, for proposals aimed at small businesses in the sustainable sector agriculture and food production chain, sustainable and health tourism, information technology, manufacturing, and creative industries.

 A list of all projects that will be funded through this Public Call is available at the link.