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(Continue)
Main Priorities
The following priorities were identified by the
Working Group on Regional Economic Development as a result
of a SWOT Analysis (Strengths,Weaknesses,Opportunities,Threats):
Utilizing the Academic Potentials of
the Region for Business Development Purposes;
Infrastructure Development (i.e. Utilizing
the Potentials of Corridors 8 and 10 for the Economic Benefit
of the Euroregion EuroBalkans)
Creating and Strengthening Public-private
Partnership;
SME Development and Financing; Capacity
Building of SMEs;
Regional Information System Development;
Environmental Protection as a Tool for
Economic Development;
Regional Cooperation for Combating Organized
Crime and Terrorism;
Cooperation in the field of Tourism;
Harmonization of the Legislation and
Administrative Regulations Affecting the General Business
Environment;
Sharing of Experience and Best Practices
Exchange;
Capacity Building of the Municipalities;
Cluster-building to Finalize the Production
Process;
| STRENGTHS (positive
aspects, internal to the entity) |
WEAKNESSES (negative
aspects, internal to the entity) |
-
good political will of the local
governments
-
geostrategic position of the
region
-
good potential of the steel industry,
(dual compatible) steel capacities
-
good cooperation in the construction
industry
-
infrastructure development
-
electronic industry and IT knowledge
well
-
qualified and highly educated
people
-
university facilities in the
three cities existence of many well
-
functioning SMEs
-
existing working initiatives
as a basis for cooperation (Trade initiative for
SEE, SECIPro committees)
-
existence of many transport corridors
(job creation and new joint venture opportunities)
-
economic potential of natural
resources (tourism)
-
existence of informal transborder
entrepreneurs’ cooperation (although often in the
gray-sector)
-
Well functioning Industrial and
Trade Associations
-
similarities in languages, national
identities and mentality
|
-
lack of common regional strategies
-
lack of modern transport /
-
communication infrastructure
no institutional /
-
legal framework for combating
organized crime, corruption and terrorism (preventing
foreign investments)
-
lack of capacity for
Crossborder cooperation of SMEs
(lack of self-confidence in people to start SMEs)
-
insufficient information flow
regarding international funding opportunities,
Crossborder cooperation
partner capacities,and transfer of know-how
-
high level of unemployment,
emigration, brain drain
-
low level of realization/finalization
of products/services (no standardization of quality
in the private sector)
-
traditional and conservative
ways of operations of the Chambers of Commerce
-
no ownership mentality (low living
standards)
-
unawareness of the connection
between industry, economy and environment
-
lack of financial opportunities
(weak banking sector, inappropriate legal framework)
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| OPPORTUNITIES (positive
aspects, external to the entity) |
THREATS (negative aspects,
external to the entity) |
-
the institutionalization of
Crossborder cooperation
efforts
-
institution building on a sub-regional
level
-
change of mindsets of the local
population
-
joint venture creation and joint
projects and fundraising
-
introduction of international
standards and quality controls
-
sharing of experiences and
technical support between partners through
Crossborder cooperation
-
EU support and training for projects
-
interest on the part of European
and financial institutions
-
Stability Pact initiative and
political framework
-
opportunities and interest for
FDI in the metal industry
-
the international community’s
efforts for stabilization of the region
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-
problems with Corridor 8 and
10
-
loss of interest on the part
of international institutions
-
favoritism towards different
countries and nations
-
international transit transport
as a threat to environment (for example damages
without economic benefit)
-
inflow of money laundering activities
-
untimely or slow reaction of
the international community inadequate actions triggering
ethnic problems
-
the desire for fast economic
development with no regard for long-term goals and
sustainability
-
potential for eruption or stimulation
of ethnic problems
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THEMATIC SUB-GROUPS
Steel Committee
Need for the development of a regional
strategy on the steelwork industry and metallurgical
complex in the Euroregion EuroBalkans
Agreement with and support for the Regional
Initiative Proposal: "Steel European Star 2001",
which is in line with the main tasks of the Stability Pact,
and will embody an international, legal and political framework
for the activity of the Committee.
Need for an urgent and immediate restructuring
of the existing facilities and capacities of the steelwork
industry and the metallurgical complex, in order to enable
them to operate in market-oriented conditions.
Need for a joint consulting organizational
form to facilitate the joint presentation of products at
the regional and wider markets.
The Seat of the Steel Industry Committee
is to be in the premises of the company MAKSTIL A.D., Skopje.
SME Development
Building on the presentations of the practitioners
of this sub group, the participants brainstormed on the problems
and resulting need for training of the SMEs and the SME supporting
institutions, and briefly presented some of their concrete
proposals and proposal ideas.
Need for Training in the Fields of:
Marketing;
Legal and institutional business environment;
Business plan development;
Business principles;
Matchmaking b/n big and small companies
and cooperation between them;
Access to European and other international
funds;
Delegation of activities & support
services
Transfer of international knowledge on
Trade and Production; know-how transfer;
IT;
Information sharing and best practices
exchange
Vocational training
Re-qualification programs;
Concrete Project
Ideas:
Training for the Euroregional Chamber
of Commerce staff;
Euroregional Information System (Municipalities,
NGOs, CoCs);
Development of a Tourist Guide for the
Triangle;
Chambers of Commerce Twinning project;
Project "TRIANGLE Vizija" -
spa tourism;
Training of Local Government and SME
supporting Agencies Staff on Proposal Development and Funding
Opportunities, Regional Enterprise Support Center Skopje,
Research paper on the identification
of clusters in the Nis-Sofia-Skopje Triangle;
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