The Albanian – Italian PRODAPS program for the development of the SME-s held a joint seminar with the Agency of the Local Economic Development where it was presented the so far activity and the performance of SMART INNO, an EU funded project.
The seminar was attended by the General Managers of the second tier banks which operate in Vlora city, local entrepreneurs and representatives of small and medium sized businesses. The meeting served to highlight the importance and the effectiveness of this project in the last years.
Funded by the Italian government through a loan of EUR 25 million and by the Albanian Fund of Guarantee by EUR 2.5 million, this project provides small loans starting from EUR 15 thousand to EUR 500 thousand for small and medium sized businesses. According to the official data, during the last years the PRODAPS program has financed 98 lending projects and through this about 1449 new vacancies were opened. The fund gives loans to businesses which operate in the handicraft, agriculture, agro industry and fishing sectors.
The project has provided loans for 18 enterprises, 27 business plans have been compiled for SME-s that have been supported by the fund and about 2000 people have been trained regarding the business field, taxes, business management, agriculture and agro industry fields, for the efficient usage of ICT means in terms of marketing and trade, e-commerce, ect.
SMART INNO project aims to increase the fair competitiveness among small and medium sized enterprises and researching / developing centers in the region of the Adriatic. The project has been implemented through different lending instruments and the guarantee fund and several other forms in supporting the direct and indirect development of the economy in Albania.
News source/photo credits: ATA
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