ECM
The Foundation for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises was established in 1999. The foundation was formed at the initiative of the municipality of the city of Kumanovo and the European Union (the FAR program), with the primary goal of providing support and development of small and medium enterprises in the northeast region. The Foundation has participated in the implementation of the PHARE project in the part of the SME sector in the region. According to the mission of the foundation, our team members are constantly educated by attending seminars and lectures in the field of business. In the past period, the Foundation has implemented numerous activities related to the support of small and medium enterprises in many areas of their work. The Foundation has implemented a number of projects for unemployed people who want to start their own business. The Foundation has established contacts with a number of business associations, international organizations that implement projects to support the development of the SME sector, financial institutions in the country and abroad, as well as with many business contacts offices in the embassies of the European countries in Macedonia. The SME Development Foundation provides small and medium-sized enterprises in the region and wider rapid and dynamic development by identifying their real needs by offering projects and programs for assistance and support, accurate and appropriate information and capacities of newly opened companies, which enables the development of companies and leads to a successful, enduring and profitable business. In the last few years, the Foundation is fully focused on the category of unemployed people who want to start their own business, a category where we intensively help during the education process, increasing their capacities, providing technical advisory assistance and providing access to quality financial and non -Financial services on the market.
INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR SMEs The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Foundation works as a bureau for supporting small and medium enterprises on the territory of Bitola providing all information needed for the SME sector. The following services are offered for small and medium enterprises: Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises for easier access to financial sources and credit lines; Assistance in business planning and preparation of a business plan; Organizes and implements training programs for the unemployed, as well as the development of ideas in successful businesses; Information and services for the professional development of highly educated young people without employment; Connecting small and medium enterprises with highly educated young people; Support to cash flow management; Support for easier access to financial grants and donations from international donor programs; Identification of sustainable business opportunities; Identification of potential business partners; Provides contacts and connection of small and medium enterprises with external partners; Estimates of the need for human resources development within the governance structures; Providing an analysis of the organizational structure and a detailed description of the work tasks; Selection of procedures for strengthening the staff; SME support for their greater market participation; Organizing presentations, workshops, seminars, conferences, etc.