In the framework of the project Financial Facilities for SMEs: Training and Capacity Building for Business Support Organisations in non-EU Member States of the Central European Initiative - FIT4SMEs II, three trainings were organised in Tirana (Albania) on 15-16 March 2012, Belgrade (Serbia) on 3-4 April 2012, and Kyiv (Ukraine) on 23-24 April 2012.
Thanks to these activities more than 90 Business Support Organisations (BSOs), such as chambers of commerce and development agencies of non-EU CEI countries had the possibility to deepen their knowledge about the financial facilities of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) operating in that countries. Special attention was given to instruments made available by the World Bank Group, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
In addition, BSOs gained understanding on how to provide comprehensive assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the area of access to finance.
The project is co-financed by the Italian Government’s contribution to the CEI Know-how Exchange Programme (KEP) through the CEI Fund at the EBRD and by the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and was implemented by Informest, one of the Italian operational agencies for projects in South East Europe, in cooperation with the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (I.C.E.).
The project’s total cost is about EUR 80.000 and the CEI co-financing is EUR 40.000.
For more information: www.fit4smes.net