Strategies of the Development of Entrepreneurship and SME

3.4.4. SME SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTUREThe Council for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises andEntrepreneurship was established by the decision of the Government of Republic of Serbia,No. 05-02-7692/2006 dated 17. August 2006. (Official Gazette No.69/06). The Council’s tasksare to discuss, monitor and analyses the situation in the field of small and medium enterprisesand entrepreneurship, to give suggestions, opinions, initiatives and expert explanations oncreating and carrying the support policy for small and medium enterprises development andconditions improvement for foundation and operations of small and medium enterprises andentrepreneurship. The Council is also expected to follow and initiate the activities amongministries, that is, the Ministry and other organizations and institutions. The members of theCouncil are the appointed representatives of ministries of: economy, science and environment,labor, employment and social policy, finance, trade, tourism and services, education and sport,agriculture, forestry and waterpower as well as the representatives of Chamber of Commerceof Serbia and the Union of Serbian Employers.The Serbian Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sizedEnterprises and Entrepreneurship was established by the Law of the Agency forDevelopment of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Official Gazette 65/2001, as of 23November 2001) with the basic aim to support (assist, advise and protect) the developmentand interest of SME sector, which in long term should contribute to the harmonization ofeconomic structure and faster economic development and of Serbia. The main goal of Agency isto support the regional economic development and change of Serbian economic structure inorder to:• Solve unemployment problems more efficiently;• Substitute import and intensifying SMEs competitiveness;• Stimulate various forms of cooperation with big enterprises;• Introduce modern technologies and enhance innovations (entrepreneurs incubators,innovative centres);• Utilize business premises and equipment more economically;• Quality upgrade; automation and computerisation etc.According to the Article 7 of the Law the main activities and mandate of Agency are:• Participation in the preparation of the strategy of development and proposal of theeconomic policy measures for the stimulation of the development of SME's andentrepreneurs in cooperation with the competent ministry;• Preparation and performing the professional assistance for the co-ordination of specialprograms and investment funds as well as for financial support for the stimulation ofcreation of new and development of existing SMEs and entrepreneurs;• Performing the professional assistance necessary for the realization of local and foreigninvestments in SME's;• Performing professional assistance necessary for improving the operation, thedevelopment of innovations as well as their application in SMEs;• Creation of unique data base system of statistical data and information relevant for thedevelopment of SME's and entrepreneurs;• Preparation and delivering programs of education of instructors and consultants for thedevelopment needs of SME's and entrepreneurs;• Performing other services as provided by the law.The core activities of the Republic Agency include strengthening of the Republic Networkof technical support for SME development (which covers more than 80% of the territory of theRepublic of Serbia), assistance and support in the establishment of new regional agencies andcenters as centers for information, consulting and education, Realization of differenteducational processes for SME sector, initiating and organizing different events aimed at59