Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economies worldwide, playing a crucial role in job creation, innovation, and inclusive growth. According to UNCTAD, formal and informal MSMEs make up over 90% of all companies worldwide, average of 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP. UN emphasizes that a human-centered approach is central to the evolving “circular economy”, emphasizing the importance of individuals and communities in driving sustainable transformation.
Opportunities for MSMEs under the EU4EG project
To celebrate the World MSME Day, the project EU for Economic Growth (EU4EG) invites MSMEs to apply to the open Call for Proposals and use the business support services (BSSs) related to green and circular approaches.
EU4EG is looking for MSMEs with growth potential established in the 4 target areas in North Macedonia (North-East, Polog, and South-West planning regions and Prespa area (Municipality of Resen) to use business support services delivered by qualified local Business Support Organizations (BSOs).
Apply now to the EU4EG Call for Proposals and get support to use business support services such as circular business model, product development, energy efficiency audit of industrial processes, protection of intellectual property rights or digital maturity assessment. Benefit from the access to BSSs, information and networking.
Celebrating Success
Until present, the EU4EG project has awarded grants totaling 4.15 million EUR to 20 high-growth MSMEs across sectors like recycling, agri-food, and manufacturing. This initiative is set to create significant impact, including the addition of 203 new jobs (with a focus on youth and women), substantial CO2 reductions, and an increase in company turnover.
The project EU4EG is dedicated to enhancing local economic activity and competitiveness across four key regions in North Macedonia: North-East, Polog, South-West, and the Prespa area (Resen Municipality). By improving access to finance and advanced business services, EU4EG supports startups and MSMEs in realizing their growth potential.
EU for Economic Growth project is co-funded by the EU and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, implemented by GIZ North Macedonia and AREA Science Park from Trieste, Italy.
