On 14th of December a SEE Net on Balkans - Cross Border Area BG-MK has been submitted under IPA Cross Border Cooperation Program BG-MK

South-Eastern European Network on Balkans – Cross-Border Region Bulgaria – Macedonia

Lead Partner: National Ass. Of Small and Medium Business – Kyustendil Branch, BULGARIA

Association  of hotels and restaurants owners – Sandanski, BULGARIA

Municipality of Strumitza, MACEDONIA

Citizens Association Center for Development and Promotion PROMO IDEA

Project activities are targeted at priority axis 1 - Economic development and social cohesion, a key area of intervention 1 - Economic Development, Program for CBC IPA by supporting the region for its integration and harmonious, balanced and sustainable development.

 

The project provides a real contribution towards meeting the objectives of the program by encouraging joint action in support of cross-border business activities - the creation of centers for attracting direct investment, development of common marketing and advertising services, creation of databases to regional stakeholders, strengthening transmission expertise and transfer of best European practices. Activities promote cross-border networks, development of training, including and electronic training in entrepreneurship through the use of electronic portal www.seenetwork.eu, cross-border activities to raise awareness of SMEs to comply with Community law and economy based on knowledge.

The main objective of the project is to improve the quality of human capital, to promote entrepreneurship and to improve the competitiveness of SMEs and NGOs working for businesses to increase their contribution for creating a favorable business environment and sustainable socio-economic development of cross-border region (municipality Sandanski, Kyustendil region, municipality of Strumica). Specific objectives: 1.Increasement of competitiveness of SMEs by extracting advantage from the application of Community law and the knowledge-based economy; 2.Realizirane training programs and transfer of best practices, enhancing the competitiveness of Companies 3. Joint action in support of cross-Cross-border business activities centers to attract investment in the town of Sandanski Strumica town with an annual economic forum in two editions: the spring Sandanski - and in autumn in Strumitsa; 4. Information services for entrepreneurs operating in the border region through Internet-based resources for business, upgraded portal www.seenetwork.eu.The specific project objectives are fully relevant to the indicative operations in key areas of intervention 1-economic development. The activities pursue increased economic capacity of entrepreneurs and business representatives in the implementation of economic developments, the implementation of European best practices and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs in order to increase economic growth and sustainable cross-border cooperation.

The project sustainability is incorporated in its core philosophy.The establsihed Centers for attraction of investments will continue to provide their activities after the project end supported by the municipalities and the local business. The ellaborated Strategy for development of the Centers and examined European practice will help the future activities of the the Economic Forums - the most sustainable result of the project as they will have editions during the next years. The web portal will continuously provide services for SMEs giving them access to updated information for business development. On the other hand, the portal availables its usage by all interested parties realising the horizontal policies of EU for equal possibilities and accessability to the project results.By the on-line training the SEE Net project is promoting the competitiveness of the economy based on knowledge and the  entrepreneurial spirit as a basis for the sustainable development of CBR.