Through the Grants Program for Self-Employment, worth 3,5 million euros, which the Employment Agency (ZZZ) implemented with the support of the European Union (EU), 468 unemployed people were given the opportunity to start their own business and solve an existential issue.
The acting director of the ZZZ, Gzim Hajdinaga, said at the final conference of the three-year project, which is financed from pre-accession funds (IPA), that it is an example of dedicated work and the result of intensive cooperation between Montenegro and the EU, through the EU Delegation.
Direct support is part of the 18 million euro program of the EU and Montenegro for employment, education and social policy.
"The grant program for self-employment was implemented by the Institute as a beneficiary of a direct grant, with the support of the relevant ministries. Thanks to the funds received, in the amount of 3,5 million euros, the Institute managed to allocate grant funds to as many as 468 unemployed people, who were given the opportunity to achieve as entrepreneurs or companies with limited liability (doo) and provide themselves with a sustainable existence," Hajdinaga said at the press conference held in the European House.
He explained that the emphasis is on young people, women and long-term unemployed people.
"In this way, it contributed to reducing the gray economy and poverty, as well as increasing employment. Entrepreneurship was encouraged and preconditions were created for the creation of new jobs," announced Hajdinaga and noted that more than 95 percent of grant beneficiaries still exist.
He said that in this way they implemented an effective pilot project, which resulted in the decision to turn it into a regular measure of active employment policy.
"The implementation of this project has significantly improved the capacity of the Institute in the implementation of similar projects. The overall economic activity in the country will largely depend on effectively spent European funds. That is why we will continue to cooperate with all relevant actors and organizations and make a full contribution to solving the unemployment issue in Montenegro. It's burning," said Hajdinaga.
The program was implemented in three one-year cycles in order to support solving the problem of unemployment, that is, to encourage entrepreneurship, self-employment and the creation of new jobs.
The representative of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Isakson Liselot, said that with this program, the Union has once again shown that it supports Montenegrin citizens in these difficult times.
"We are glad that we were able to help the Institute to provide an effective response to the economic challenges caused by the health and economic crisis in the past few years," said Liselotte.
According to her, the EU, through this support, wanted to deal with the problem of unemployment and the strengthening of entrepreneurship - especially women, young people and those who are unemployed in the long term.
"We are pleased that we managed to include around 460 unemployed people, develop their creative ideas and transform them into products and services that are functional. The project not only contributed to the end users, but also strengthened the capacities of the Institute to establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating this type of grants" , believes Liselotte.
The Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Admir Adrović, said that he was satisfied with the implementation of the project.
"The direct grant to the Institute, from which grants for self-employment were financed, was provided from the EU and Montenegro program for employment, education and social welfare 2015-2017. The program was worth EUR 18 million and represented a donation from the Union within the pre-accession support of IPA Montenegro It's burning," Adrovic said.
He assessed that the program contributed to the strengthening of intersectoral cooperation and the capacity of institutions to create and implement policies, approaching EU standards.
"This is supported by the fact that over 85 percent of the total value of the program was successfully implemented," said Adrović.
He concluded that projects like this directly contribute to the quality of life of the citizens of Montenegro and announced the further support of the Ministry in similar activities.
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