Business Enabling Environment Results

SME Support project worked closely with MTI to strengthen its capacities to effectively contribute to the growth of the SME sector of Kosovo.

»�e project was a key player in drafting and finalizing the SME Development Strategy 2012-2016, which was later elaborated and adopted by the Government of Kosovo;»Facilitated and supported MTI internal process of developing the new Private Sector Development strategy.

�e project assisted the MTI and the Prime Minister’s Legal Office in drafting, amending or delivering recommendations on a number of key laws: Law on Business Organisations; Law on Publicly-Owned Enterprises; Law on Internal Trade; Law on Import Safeguard Measures; Law on External Trade;Law on Licenses and Permits,Law on Inspections; and Law on Foreign Investments.

And also: »Participated actively in Task force for development of recommenda-tions to improve Kosovo's score in the World Bank “Doing Business” Report, including the passage of a reform package involving elimina-tion of the labour permit, and unification of business identification numbers;»A Pre-Feasibility Study on establishment of special economic zones in Gjakova and Mitrovica conducted;»SMESA assisted in 2011 reporting to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on implementation of the European Small Business Act (SBA) in Kosovo;»Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) for potential use of certain trade measures to promote Kosovo exports analysed.

Public-Private Dialogue and Donor Coordination

SME support project was very active in efforts to establish a sound public-private sector dialogue through effective coordination, consultation and information dissemination mechanisms.

»Small Business Days initiative expanded and acknowledged as SMESA/MTI’s primary public-private dialogue platform with extensive outreach in the regions;»Monthly Project Coordination Meetings established with the participation of other international donor projects active in private sector reform and development in Kosovo»Experience Exchange Group of Kosovo Business Associations established (Kosovo Business Association Forum)

Improving Competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs

SME project worked and directly with the SMEs to improve the competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs in order to increase the share of Kosovo products and services in local and international markets.

»Centre of Excellence established»National Training Needs Analysis completed involving 109 SMEs from a variety of economic sectors and disseminated»Kosovo Competitiveness Programme designed and completed with approximately 80 SMEs taking active part in the formal training activities and in-company consulting, in five regions of Kosovo»Social Business Incubator project design review completed;»Access to Finance report elaborated and disseminated.

Public Information Campaign and Visibility»Team building exercises with MTI staff»In job trainings with MTI staff»Outreach activities to exchange information with SMEs»Press Conferences to present both EUSME and MTI progress »National level conferences promoting entrepreneurship »Public outreach campaigns on SME development »Publication of reports and studies

SME SUPPORT THROUGH MTI Small and Medium Enterprises project, implemented through

Ministry of Trade and Industry

October 2009 - December 2012

OVERALL OBJECTIVESupport the revitalization of the economy of Kosovo

by enhancing the business enabling environment and the competitiveness of SMEs.

Business Enabling Environment Results

SME Support project worked closely with MTI to strengthen its capacities to effectively contribute to the growth of the SME sector of Kosovo.

»�e project was a key player in drafting and finalizing the SME Development Strategy 2012-2016, which was later elaborated and adopted by the Government of Kosovo;»Facilitated and supported MTI internal process of developing the new Private Sector Development strategy.

�e project assisted the MTI and the Prime Minister’s Legal Office in drafting, amending or delivering recommendations on a number of key laws: Law on Business Organisations; Law on Publicly-Owned Enterprises; Law on Internal Trade; Law on Import Safeguard Measures; Law on External Trade;Law on Licenses and Permits,Law on Inspections; and Law on Foreign Investments.

And also: »Participated actively in Task force for development of recommenda-tions to improve Kosovo's score in the World Bank “Doing Business” Report, including the passage of a reform package involving elimina-tion of the labour permit, and unification of business identification numbers;»A Pre-Feasibility Study on establishment of special economic zones in Gjakova and Mitrovica conducted;»SMESA assisted in 2011 reporting to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on implementation of the European Small Business Act (SBA) in Kosovo;»Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) for potential use of certain trade measures to promote Kosovo exports analysed.

Public-Private Dialogue and Donor Coordination

SME support project was very active in efforts to establish a sound public-private sector dialogue through effective coordination, consultation and information dissemination mechanisms.

»Small Business Days initiative expanded and acknowledged as SMESA/MTI’s primary public-private dialogue platform with extensive outreach in the regions;»Monthly Project Coordination Meetings established with the participation of other international donor projects active in private sector reform and development in Kosovo»Experience Exchange Group of Kosovo Business Associations established (Kosovo Business Association Forum)

Improving Competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs

SME project worked and directly with the SMEs to improve the competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs in order to increase the share of Kosovo products and services in local and international markets.

»Centre of Excellence established»National Training Needs Analysis completed involving 109 SMEs from a variety of economic sectors and disseminated»Kosovo Competitiveness Programme designed and completed with approximately 80 SMEs taking active part in the formal training activities and in-company consulting, in five regions of Kosovo»Social Business Incubator project design review completed;»Access to Finance report elaborated and disseminated.

Public Information Campaign and Visibility»Team building exercises with MTI staff»In job trainings with MTI staff»Outreach activities to exchange information with SMEs»Press Conferences to present both EUSME and MTI progress »National level conferences promoting entrepreneurship »Public outreach campaigns on SME development »Publication of reports and studies

Business Enabling Environment Results

SME Support project worked closely with MTI to strengthen its capacities to effectively contribute to the growth of the SME sector of Kosovo.

»�e project was a key player in drafting and finalizing the SME Development Strategy 2012-2016, which was later elaborated and adopted by the Government of Kosovo;»Facilitated and supported MTI internal process of developing the new Private Sector Development strategy.

�e project assisted the MTI and the Prime Minister’s Legal Office in drafting, amending or delivering recommendations on a number of key laws: Law on Business Organisations; Law on Publicly-Owned Enterprises; Law on Internal Trade; Law on Import Safeguard Measures; Law on External Trade;Law on Licenses and Permits,Law on Inspections; and Law on Foreign Investments.

And also: »Participated actively in Task force for development of recommenda-tions to improve Kosovo's score in the World Bank “Doing Business” Report, including the passage of a reform package involving elimina-tion of the labour permit, and unification of business identification numbers;»A Pre-Feasibility Study on establishment of special economic zones in Gjakova and Mitrovica conducted;»SMESA assisted in 2011 reporting to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on implementation of the European Small Business Act (SBA) in Kosovo;»Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) for potential use of certain trade measures to promote Kosovo exports analysed.

Public-Private Dialogue and Donor Coordination

SME support project was very active in efforts to establish a sound public-private sector dialogue through effective coordination, consultation and information dissemination mechanisms.

»Small Business Days initiative expanded and acknowledged as SMESA/MTI’s primary public-private dialogue platform with extensive outreach in the regions;»Monthly Project Coordination Meetings established with the participation of other international donor projects active in private sector reform and development in Kosovo»Experience Exchange Group of Kosovo Business Associations established (Kosovo Business Association Forum)

Improving Competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs

SME project worked and directly with the SMEs to improve the competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs in order to increase the share of Kosovo products and services in local and international markets.

»Centre of Excellence established»National Training Needs Analysis completed involving 109 SMEs from a variety of economic sectors and disseminated»Kosovo Competitiveness Programme designed and completed with approximately 80 SMEs taking active part in the formal training activities and in-company consulting, in five regions of Kosovo»Social Business Incubator project design review completed;»Access to Finance report elaborated and disseminated.

Public Information Campaign and Visibility»Team building exercises with MTI staff»In job trainings with MTI staff»Outreach activities to exchange information with SMEs»Press Conferences to present both EUSME and MTI progress »National level conferences promoting entrepreneurship »Public outreach campaigns on SME development »Publication of reports and studies

Business Enabling Environment Results

SME Support project worked closely with MTI to strengthen its capacities to effectively contribute to the growth of the SME sector of Kosovo.

»�e project was a key player in drafting and finalizing the SME Development Strategy 2012-2016, which was later elaborated and adopted by the Government of Kosovo;»Facilitated and supported MTI internal process of developing the new Private Sector Development strategy.

�e project assisted the MTI and the Prime Minister’s Legal Office in drafting, amending or delivering recommendations on a number of key laws: Law on Business Organisations; Law on Publicly-Owned Enterprises; Law on Internal Trade; Law on Import Safeguard Measures; Law on External Trade;Law on Licenses and Permits,Law on Inspections; and Law on Foreign Investments.

And also: »Participated actively in Task force for development of recommenda-tions to improve Kosovo's score in the World Bank “Doing Business” Report, including the passage of a reform package involving elimina-tion of the labour permit, and unification of business identification numbers;»A Pre-Feasibility Study on establishment of special economic zones in Gjakova and Mitrovica conducted;»SMESA assisted in 2011 reporting to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on implementation of the European Small Business Act (SBA) in Kosovo;»Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) for potential use of certain trade measures to promote Kosovo exports analysed.

Public-Private Dialogue and Donor Coordination

SME support project was very active in efforts to establish a sound public-private sector dialogue through effective coordination, consultation and information dissemination mechanisms.

»Small Business Days initiative expanded and acknowledged as SMESA/MTI’s primary public-private dialogue platform with extensive outreach in the regions;»Monthly Project Coordination Meetings established with the participation of other international donor projects active in private sector reform and development in Kosovo»Experience Exchange Group of Kosovo Business Associations established (Kosovo Business Association Forum)

Improving Competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs

SME project worked and directly with the SMEs to improve the competitiveness of Kosovo SMEs in order to increase the share of Kosovo products and services in local and international markets.

»Centre of Excellence established»National Training Needs Analysis completed involving 109 SMEs from a variety of economic sectors and disseminated»Kosovo Competitiveness Programme designed and completed with approximately 80 SMEs taking active part in the formal training activities and in-company consulting, in five regions of Kosovo»Social Business Incubator project design review completed;»Access to Finance report elaborated and disseminated.

Public Information Campaign and Visibility»Team building exercises with MTI staff»In job trainings with MTI staff»Outreach activities to exchange information with SMEs»Press Conferences to present both EUSME and MTI progress »National level conferences promoting entrepreneurship »Public outreach campaigns on SME development »Publication of reports and studies

THE SME SUPPORT NETWORK

Over the course of the project, the EUSME team has worked closely with the agen-cies of the Ministry - �e Small and Medium Enterprises Support Agency (SME SA) and Investment Promotion Agency in Kosovo (IPAK). �e cooperation included project management, in office support, and capacity development for the agencies.Also, the SME Support project has implemented a number of activities, projects and studies in close cooperation with Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in achieving the ultimate objective of support to private sector development.