Teams on Wheels

Under the project "Teams on Wheels" International Fair of Rural Entrepreneurship in Eastern Serbia and the North-west Bulgaria was held. The fair was held in the village Grljan, Zajecar Municpality, on April 1st, 2011.

Fair visitors had the opportunity to learn about the products and services of over 25 shops and businesses in rural areas in Serbia and Bulgaria. Partners from Bulgaria were presented with 12 of its businesses which have presented a wide range of products and services.

The fair was officially opened by Deputy Mayor of City Zajecar, Mr. Srecko Nikolic and the opening was attended the heads of Zajecar and Bor district, media, and representatives from all relevant institutions in the region.

Total duration of the action:
18 months

Objectives of the action:
The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to the promotion of sustainable border area development through creating a shelter environment for SME’s development in order to increase the social and economic cohesion.
The specific objective is to improve sustainable economic development of the isolated/remote border region through:
- providing a timely, demand-driven counseling, advising and information services for SMEs, entrepreneurs and farmers;
- building local network to stimulate the cooperation between the SMEs and entrepreneurs;
- strengthening the links between private and public sector.

Partner(s):
“Regional Development Agency and Business Centre 2000”, Montana;
Regional Chamber of Economy Zajecar

Target group(s):
The target group of the present Project are more then 300 SMEs, agricultural producers and entrepreneurs in isolated/remote border region, which benefit from the integrated support package services, provided by the “Teams on wheels”; also the Business Support organizations from cross-border regions working to support SMEs.

Final beneficiaries:
Final beneficiaries of the Project activities are the sector of small and medium enterprises /SMEs/ and agricultural producers/farmers in disadvantaged municipalities in bordering area; the citizens of the Timok region of Serbia and Montana district of Bulgaria, who will live in a better developed economic region.

Estimated results:
Minimum 300 representatives of the target group use the mobile services; Increased number of registered start-up businesses; Improved competitiveness of the SMEs from the two border regions; Conducted training in 5 modules /1 day each/ in the border region; 100 representatives of SMEs trained in 5 modules; Prepared 20 applications for the funding by of Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, and Serbian Development Fund; Established and equipped mobile team /”Teams on wheels”/ to provide counseling and advising in business start-up, business planning, finances and marketing in the border region; Developed, printed and distributed 1000 pcs. promotional brochure; Project Web-site and Internet Forum (created and regularly updated), with presentation for more than 300 businesses; Established an organized way for future business matchmaking; Conducted 1-day exhibition for entrepreneurs to exchange the best practices; Publications of information about the Project on the local medias and Internet sites of the two partners.

Main activities:
Project management and Tender procedures; Forming mobile team /”Teams on wheels”/; Study tour in Montana , Bulgaria; Informational campaign in the municipalities in the border region; Providing services and trainings to the target group; Project Web-site and Internet Forum (created and regularly updated; Conducting exhibition to exchange the best practices; Work meetings; Promotion and popularization of Neighborhood Programme and the project results.