USAID Serbia and Montenegro
Compete Project (Serbia): Helping to bring Serbian companies back into world market – leading directly to $20.5m in 2008 exports. Helping to introduce International Industry standards that allow companies to compete in the global marketplace. Attracted major film productions and millions in investments. | Support to companies (Serbia) in vulnerable areas increased their competitiveness. 2008 sales at trade/shows fairs for assisted companies up 42%. | Economic systems (Serbia): Helped introduce: VAT; private pensions; investment funds; sound insurance industry, bankruptcy and enforcement and modern payment systems. | Opportunity Bank (Serbia) loans created 5,000+ new jobs and ensured 40,000+ existing jobs were kept. Only lender for vulnerable people who have little access to credit. | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (Serbia): Civil Society activities have brought together 14 major companies and an array of NGOs to establish culture of CSR. | Preparedness Planning (Serbia): USAID works with all levels of government to improve disaster risk reduction, trained 675 responders from 50 Municipalities on disaster management. | Civil Society Grants (Serbia): USAID assisted 160 Civil Society organizations with $5.2 million in 2.5yrs to better represent the needs of ordinary people & become more influential partners with businesses and government in the democratic process. | Media (Serbia): USAID media assistance has contributed to more independent, professional and financially viable media outlets and media associations. The regulatory environment now better supports the development of e-media; 2,000+ media professionals trained. | Court Reform (Serbia): U.S. assistance helped increase independence and the professional skills of judges, magistrates and prosecutors; provided legal assistance to victims of war crimes and human rights abuses. | Local governments (Serbia): Through work with a wide geographic spread of municipalities, local governments are now more responsive: 30+ Citizen Assistance Centers, E-government in 80+ Municipalities. | Youth (Serbia): Junior Achievement in 90 schools in 2009. USAID supports efforts of the Ministry of Youth/Sports to better prepare youth for post-graduation work opportunities. | Agribusiness (Serbia): Serbian companies assisted made $16.7m in registered sales in 2008. Recent trade shows expected to bring over $17m in contracts. | Local Economic growth (Serbia): Municipalities in USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity attracted over 800m Euro in investments and created over 11,000 jobs in two years by becoming more business friendly; 270 new businesses opened; 26 Local Economic Development offices set up to actively attract investments. | Commercial Courts (Serbia) have become more efficient and transparent with Case Management Systems in all 16 courts and the High Commercial Court. Case backlogs cut drastically. |
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Former USAID recipient becomes partner

Signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partners to work together on assistance efforts is a fairly regular occurrence for USAID. The MoU signed this month between USAID and the Hungarian Embassy in Serbia, however, was special.

From 1989 to 1999, USAID delivered $243 million in assistance to support Hungary in its transformation from a state-controlled economy under authoritarian rule to a market-oriented democracy. Aid from the American people was focused on assisting Hungary in achieving sustainable economic reform and completing its democratization process. Now, nine years into assisting Serbia in the same areas, with $670 million spent thus far, USAID Serbia has teamed up with Hungary to allow Serbs to learn from the Hungarian experience.

Hungarian Ambassador Sandor Papp and USAID Mission Director
Michael Harvey signing MoU

The MoU, signed by the Hungarian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Sandor Papp and USAID Mission Director Mr. Michael T. Harvey, was an agreement on providing joint support for local economic development activities in Serbia. In practical terms, the agreement was about taking representatives from municipalities all around Serbia on study trips to Hungary. Representatives of seventeen communities have already participated in study tours organized jointly by USAID and the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary. On these study tours participants attain first-hand knowledge from Hungarian municipal officials and technical experts about Hungary’s experience with industrial zones, industrial parks, business incubators and other tools for local economic development.

At the signing ceremony U.S. Chargé d’Affaires noted, “I am very pleased that the US Embassy is able to enhance its commitment to improving the lives of Serbian citizens in cooperation with our friends and allies, the Hungarians. “I believe that Hungary’s transition from a Warsaw Pact state to a European Union member holds many valuable lessons for Serbia. And, the feedback we received from participants of the two study tours supports this.”

In front of representatives from several Serbian municipalities and the Ministry of Economy and regional Development, both the Hungarian Ambassador and the USAID Mission Director pledged the commitment of the United States and Hungary to continue contributing to Serbia's growth and development.

Serbian municipality staff outside the Hungarian Parliament on a study tour to Hungary.