Cooperation Strategy Serbia 2010 - 2013 - Deza - admin.ch

SERBIA 2010-2013
palities will be targeted in the short to medium
term. Complementary activities will be explored
at the national level.
Interventions to enhance economic governance
will include support for international standards
and codes aimed at a sound institutional and
market infrastructure.
This sub-domain is aimed at producing direct
improvements to generate competitive, transparent,
and reliable regulatory environments at
national and local levels, thereby allowing SMEs
to formalize their operations, do more and better
business, and create new jobs. The regular Foreign
Investments Advisory Service/International
Finance Corporation (FIAS/IFC) sub-national
“Doing Business” surveys in selected benchmark
municipalities will assess progress in relevant
performance indicators. These surveys are co-financed
by SECO. In addition, the government’s
progress in implementing strategies such as the
“regulatory guillotine” will be a core context
development to be monitored.
Sub-domain: trade cooperation (SECO)
Serbia’s traditional, large current account deficit
calls for growth in sectors with export potential,
hence an increased competitiveness of exports.
To allow Serbia to capitalize on its WTO membership
– expected in 2010 and for which
SECO’s support has been essential – trade-related
deficiencies and opportunities are being
addressed to increase the export potential of private
enterprises. Main lines of intervention are (i)
intellectual property rights through the enforcement
of geographical indications (GIs); these are
related to WTO-TRIPS and intended to designate
product quality, highlight brand identity and preserve
cultural traditions; (ii) the European retailers’
programme for good agricultural products
(GLOBALGAP) quality standard for export-oriented
commercial agriculture; and (iii) export promotion
for specific traditional agricultural products
(in cooperation with SIPPO), as well as commodities
and services with a high technological
value (development of specific export clusters).
Expected outcomes are directly related to these
activity lines. Exports by commercial entities
which introduce GIs and quality standards should
increase measurably. The wider context must be
monitored in terms of government policies and
regulations that impact on the export industry.
Sub-domain: making markets work for
the poor/M4P (SDC)
A systemic SME-focused market development
approach is relatively new to Serbia. Consequently,
the potential for alignment with existing
policies and strategies is limited. SDC has
begun rolling out the innovative “Making Markets
Work for the Poor” (“M4P”) concept, which
intends to develop market systems so that they
function more effectively and, in particular, also
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