A total of 57 young entrepreneurs and farmers have received financial support over the past two years through programs aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and developing agriculture in the area of the Kolašin municipality.
As the Secretary for Finance, Property and Economic Development explains to "Vijesti" Vuk Vukovic, 11 young entrepreneurs and 46 young farmers were supported, which, as he claims, "represents a significant step forward in supporting generational renewal and economic empowerment of young people."
11 young entrepreneurs under the age of 30, whose business plans were assessed as acceptable, were awarded 47.000 euros in grants in 2024 and 2025.
At the same time, in the field of agriculture, 46 Kolašin residents, under the age of 40, used grants from the local budget. The measures in this area were aimed at investing in the purchase of equipment, agricultural machinery, breeding animals, infrastructure solutions and the adaptation of facilities. The support amounted to 80 percent of the investment, or a maximum of 4.000 euros per beneficiary.
Among the supported projects for young farmers are water supply (six beneficiaries), milking machines, procurement of fruit seedlings, procurement of greenhouses, support for crop production, modernization and adaptation of livestock facilities, improvement of beekeeping, and procurement of solar panels.
"In the last two years, a significant step forward has been made in the area of support for entrepreneurship and agriculture. The total annual budget for entrepreneurship has been increased from 10.000 to 60.000 euros, with the introduction of a special measure for young entrepreneurs in the amount of 30.000 euros for the first time, while the existing measure to support female entrepreneurship has been increased from 10.000 to 30.000 euros. These measures are designed to provide young people with the initial capital to enter entrepreneurship, while providing women with an additional incentive to decide to start their own business, bearing in mind that in practice they rarely decide to engage in entrepreneurial activities," explains Vuković.
In the field of agriculture, the 2025 budget originally planned funds in the amount of 140.000 euros, while the execution amounted to around 105.000 euros. This, according to Vuković, indicates that the funds were planned in a volume that allows for a response to the real needs of users, without setting restrictive budgetary limits. Differences in the level of use of certain measures are the result of the interests of users and the specificities of certain activities, and not limitations in the design of incentive policies themselves.
"On this basis, a special support measure for young farmers was introduced, with the aim of facilitating their entry into agricultural production, encouraging generational renewal and improving the long-term sustainability of rural areas. In the previous application of incentive measures for young entrepreneurs and young farmers, the implementation was carried out in accordance with planned procedures and established criteria, without systemic obstacles that would affect their efficiency," says Vuković.
In the coming period, the Secretariat for Finance, Property and Economic Development, as announced by Vuković, will continue to "monitor the implementation of measures, analyze their effects and, in accordance with the expressed needs of beneficiaries, propose changes to existing and the introduction of new incentive measures, within the available budgetary possibilities.
46 under the age of 40 used grants from the local budget to invest in the purchase of equipment, agricultural machinery, breeding animals, infrastructure solutions and adaptation of facilities
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