Service Package

The overall objective of implementing the standardized service package is to support balanced regional development of Bačka by improving the availability, scope, and quality of support services for: the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise sector and entrepreneurs (MSMEs), cooperatives, local self-government units, and the founders of the Regional Development Agency Bačka (RDA Bačka).

The standardized service package implemented by RDA Bačka consists of five groups of standardized services:

1. Information
2. Training
3. Advisory services
4. Mentoring
5. Promotion
6. Field control within the Entrepreneurship Promotion Program through financial support for start-ups, implemented by the Ministry of Economy in cooperation with the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia

Information

Providing information to existing and potential micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs (MSMEs), cooperatives, and clusters regarding:

1. All necessary information related to starting a business – start-up;
2. National and international entrepreneurship support programs;
3. Available sources of financing (domestic and foreign);
4. Legal regulations and obligations, taxes and fees, as well as mandatory forms;
5. Support available through the European Enterprise Network (EEN) project – export conditions for foreign markets, technical regulations and standards, technology and knowledge transfer, business networking, etc.;
6. Association of MSMEs – establishment and operation of clusters, associations, and cooperatives;
7. Innovation and intellectual property protection;
8. Quality standards;
9. Opportunities for creating business partnerships;
10. Information on specialized services – referral to specialized service providers;
11. Information on business and innovation incubators;
12. Other information relevant to the operations of the MSME sector, cooperatives, and clusters.

Training

Trainings provided by ARRA to existing and potential MSMEs include 10 modules divided into mandatory and optional modules.

Each ARRA is required to conduct the mandatory training module “Training for Business Start-ups” (lasting two days).

Each ARRA may also conduct the following optional one-day training modules, in accordance with users’ interest:

1. Business plan preparation and cooperation with banks and investment readiness
2. Financial management
3. Export – for first-time exporters
4. Marketing and sales
5. E-business and information technologies in business
6. Overview of quality and environmental protection standards relevant to business
7. Innovation
8. Preparation for the Single European Market
9. Participation of SMEs in public procurement

Advisory Services

Advisory services provided by ARRA under this program include:

1. Assistance in preparing documentation and drafting business plans when applying for programs related to start-ups, women, and youth at the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia;
2. Assistance in drafting business plans for self-employment subsidies at the National Employment Service;
3. Assistance in drafting business plans when applying for other loans from the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia and available credit lines of the Guarantee Fund of AP Vojvodina;
4. Support in preparing documentation and applications for entrepreneurship support programs implemented by the Ministry and the Development Agency, except programs related to start-ups, women, and youth at the Development Fund of the Republic of Serbia;
5. Advisory services for starting a business (support in registration and establishment of a business entity or cooperative, assistance with business planning – development of a business idea or technical assistance in preparing documentation and applications for available national funding sources from the public, private, and civil sectors);
6. Advisory services for business development (technical assistance in preparing documentation and applications for available national funding sources, donor support, business networking support);
7. Advisory services when applying for the EU program Horizon Europe;
8. Technical assistance in project preparation when applying for the Public Call for Procurement of Equipment and Provision of Services to Entrepreneurs, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises within the EU PRO – European Union Support to Municipal Development Program.

Mentoring

The mentoring process is carried out according to the methodology of the National Agency for Regional Development (NARD), adopted by the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS), developed in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The methodology defines the steps in the process within which a professional mentor, through direct contact and work with the founder and/or responsible person of the business entity, or the management/board of cooperatives, conducts a certain number of hours (from 25 to 50 per beneficiary) at the beneficiary’s premises. The founder and/or responsible person of the business entity and the cooperative management/board (or delegated representatives) and the mentor jointly analyze current operations, reasons for current problems or obstacles to further development, and key growth potentials. Based on the identified situation, the mentor and beneficiary prepare a development plan/project.

Content of mentoring services:

1. Business diagnostics;
2. Assistance in preparing development activities/plans to achieve business or cooperative goals;
3. Advisory support and coordination for access to funds, new technologies, and consulting services to stimulate business growth and improvement;
4. Assistance in preparing loan applications for banks and support programs for MSMEs and cooperatives;
5. Assistance in implementing development activities/plans/projects;
6. Assistance in finding business partners;
7. Consulting/coaching;
8. Training;
9. Referral to appropriate specialized consultants.

Promotion

The Regional Development Agency Bačka (RDA Bačka) participates in promotional activities related to both entrepreneurship promotion and various support programs, as well as regional promotion:

1. Support to founders in organizing and/or participating in domestic and international promotional events relevant to regional development (fairs, conferences, local events within Open Days – European Week of Regions and Cities, European SME Week, etc.);
2. Publishing materials on business operations, investment potential, and the business environment in the region;
3. Promotion of support programs for MSMEs implemented by the Ministry of Economy and the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS);
4. Promotional activities for final-year university students, secondary school students, and upper-grade primary school students aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial spirit at universities, colleges of applied sciences, secondary and primary schools.

Business Support Team