SIGNIFICANT HELP FOR SERBS IN THE DIASPORA: They can get 7,000 euros for a business in Serbia, here’s what they need to do and by which date!

Entrepreneurs from the diaspora who have an idea to start a business in Serbia now have the opportunity to find financial support for their project. The German Organization for International Cooperation (GIZ) will soon open a new competition for financial aid.

We spoke with Snežana Antonijević from GIZ and Jelena Perić, a pediatric nurse from Munich, who, thanks to this program, started the “Sunčev zrak” breastfeeding consultancy in Serbia, about who can apply and the opportunities available.

Snežana Antonijević explains that this is a global migration program in the context of development, which allows entrepreneurs to apply by March 9 on the platform diaspora2030.de.

“The application includes filling out a form, creating a business plan, and submitting a CV. After that, selected candidates will have the opportunity to present their idea orally for five minutes,” says Antonijević.

The program offers grants of 7,000 euros, which can be used to create a website, an app, pay administrative fees when opening a business, and for various service charges.

In addition to financial support, GIZ also provides consulting services to offer entrepreneurs information about legislation and procedures necessary to start a business in Serbia.

“Business idea selection is based on innovation and development potential, with a particular focus on areas such as digitalization, gender equality, climate change, and healthcare,” adds Antonijević.

What are the biggest challenges for candidates?

One of the successful examples is Jelena Perić, who, thanks to this support, started the “Sunčev zrak” breastfeeding consultancy.

“I worked for 12 years in neonatology in Munich, then completed a specialization in breastfeeding. With the help of Snežana and mentors from Serbia and Germany, I managed to realize my idea and start a business in Serbia,” says Jelena.

Perić emphasizes that the biggest challenges in starting a business are bureaucracy and legal aspects, but with the help of mentors, she was able to overcome them.

“GIZ and the mentors helped me in every segment – from opening the company, paying taxes, to double taxation. All the information was personalized and tailored to my needs,” she points out.

Her consultancy has been successfully operating for four years, organizing online and in-person consultations, home visits, and seminars.

“Our goal is to help parents and provide support to make the breastfeeding period as easy and successful as possible,” adds Jelena.

Interest in the program is growing.

The GIZ program has been around since 2011, and many entrepreneurs from the diaspora have participated in it.

“Initially, candidates had problems coming to Serbia and researching the market, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Today, with better mobility, we see an increasing number of quality business ideas,” says Antonijević.

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Among the successful projects is the “Spona” app by Mihailo Viligorić, which connects Serbian producers with top managers around the world, as well as the “Miles Technology” software solution for optimizing product delivery.

Interest in the program is growing, and participation is equally distributed between men and women.

“GIZ continuously improves the program based on feedback from candidates, introducing additional webinars on investment and entrepreneurship, as well as support from local mentors,” Antonijević emphasized.

“We look forward to new ideas and the opportunity to help people from the diaspora achieve their business goals in Serbia,” concludes Antonijević.