The 6th International Conference on SME’s – Fostering Innovative and Competitive SME’s in Western Balkan

Mladjan Dinkic, Minister of Economy and Regional Development, at the opening of the 6th International conference on small and medium-sized enterprises, stressed the importance of small and medium enterprises for creating new jobs in the Republic of Serbia. He stated that out of 1.6 million employees in the private sector, 1.3 million are employed in small and medium-sized enterprises, and that the chance for a job is no longer in the public, but in the private sector, which provides half of Serbia’s exports, and that small and medium-sized enterprises represent the engine of employment and economy growth.

A special role in strengthening and development of small and medium-sized enterprises lay on clusters, the specific interaction and cooperation among businesses, research community and education centres. The Minister stated that in the Republic of Serbia are currently twenty clusters, and stressed the importance of automotive cluster and wood processing clusters. He pointed out that cluster allows companies easier access to new technologies, creation of new jobs, expansion of innovative activities, attracting investors, increase of international competitiveness. He stressed that the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development will continue with the Cluster Development Support in the next period.