Press Releases

Jun 29, 2010
On Tuesday, June 29th, for the first time in Serba, three cities – Novi Sad, Valjevo and Kraljevo – will be awarded an international credit rating by Moody’s Investors Service, an international credit rating agency, enabling them to enter international capital markets
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May 13, 2010
The  Raska  Sport  and  Tourism  Organization,  together  with  the  National  Tourism Organization of Serbia (NTO) and the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development are hosting their first National Tourism Forum in Kopaonik (May 13-16, 2010), to bring together stakeholders from all across Serbia and discuss ways to sustainably grow tourism
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Press-Release (PDF, 56 Kb)     

May 12, 2010
On  Wednesday,  May  12th  from  2:00–3:00  p.m.  Privredna  banka  Beograd  (PBB)  and USAID's Municipal Economic Growth Activity are organizing a formal awards ceremony for the  Municipality  of  Bujanovac  to  celebrate  their  win  in  the  "Best  Partnership  Account" category of  the  Invest  in Serbia 2010 competition
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May 5, 2010
On  Wednesday,  May  5,  2010,  the  Municipality  of  Vrsac  with  support  from  USAID's Municipal Economic Growth Activity Program will open a Citizen Assistance Center (CAC), which  will  also  house  a  One-Stop  Permitting  Center
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March 31, 2010
On Wednesday,  March  31,  2010  at  the  Hyatt  Hotel  in  Belgrade,  USAID’s  Municipal  Economic  Growth Program  will  organize  the  grand  finale  of  the  “Invest  in  Serbia” municipal  competition  in  investment promotion
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February 25, 2010
Kraljevo,  Novi  Sad  and  Valjevo  were  declared  as  the  winners  of  the  Municipal  Credit Rating  competition  organized  by  USAID's Municipal  Economic Growth  Activity  today  in Belgrade in the presence of U.S
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Press-Release (PDF, 57 Kb) 

February 10 2010
On Wednesday,  February  10,  2010,  the City  of Novi Sad will  officially  establish  its  first Business Incubator (BI) as a joint venture of the City, the Vojvodina Investment Promotion Fund, the Faculty of Technical Sciences, and the Public Utility Company 'Informatika'
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December 8, 2009
On Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the City of Kragujevac and USAID's Municipal Economic Growth Activity program will be hosting a panel discussion on "Fiscal and Property Decentralization as a Development Resource in Serbia."
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November 25, 2009
On Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at the Indjija Cultural Center, the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) is organizing an official signing ceremony with 18 Serbian Mayors to begin the Business Friendly Certification process for their municipalities
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Press-Release (PDF, 32 Kb)    

July 8, 2009
On Wednesday, July 8th, the Hungarian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Sandor Papp and USAID Mission Director Mr. Michael T. Harvey will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on providing joint support for local economic development activities in Serbia
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April 10, 2009
On Monday, March 16th, Local Economic Development (LED) Office will be opened in Valjevo. The official opening will be attended by the Mayor of Valjevo Zoran Jakovljevic, USAID Economic Growth Office Director James Stein and the Director of USAID's Municipal Economic Growth program Peter Epstein.
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April 10, 2009
On Friday, March 27th, Local Economic Development (LED) Office will be opened in Novi Pazar. The official opening will be attended by the Mayor of Novi Pazar Mirsad Djerlek, USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Conrad Turner and the Director of USAID's Municipal Economic Growth program Peter Epstein.
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December 23, 2008
At yesterday’s Invest in Serbia competition, where 19 cities and municipalities competed in investment promotion, an expert panel of judges decided that the best six were – Zrenjanin, Loznica, Kragujevac, Paracin, Vrsac and Sabac. A special seventh prize, decided on by public vote at the event, went to the City of Uzice,. Invest in Serbia, held in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade, was officially opened by US Ambassador Cameron Munter and on behalf of the investors community Ivana Veselinovic, member of the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) Executive Board. The event was attended by mayors from approximately 30 Serbian municipalities and many national and international companies, such as Trimo Engineering, Microsoft, Ball Packaging, Phillip Morris, as well as representatives of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations.
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December 18, 2008
On December 18th, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade, USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity program is organizing the “Invest in Serbia” competition, where 20 local governments will compete to see which have developed the best materials and presentation to attract potential investors. The competition will be officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic and US Ambassador Cameron Munter. Guests will include representatives of some of the most important international and domestic companies, diplomatic missions, and international organizations in Serbia.
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December 10, 2008
The Business Innovation Center (BIC) was opened in Kragujevac today. Official ceremony of the opening was attended by Mr. Veroljub Stevanovic, Mayor of Kragujevac, Mr. Dragan Rankovic, Director of BIC, and H.E Ron J.P.M. van Dartel, Ambassador of The Kingdom of The Netherlands, and Ms. Olga Popovic, Deputy Director of USAID's Municipal Economic Growth Activity program.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Press-Release (PDF, 27 Kb)    

December 2, 2008
On Tuesday, December 2nd, and Wednesday, December 3rd, Local Economic Development (LED) Offices will be opened in Presevo and Medvedja. The official opening ceremony will be attended by the Mayor of Presevo Nader Sadiku, the Mayor of Medvedja Slobodan Draskovic, USAID Senior Advisor Art Flanagan and the Director of USAID's Municipal Economic Growth program Peter Epstein. Local Economic Development Offices
serve as engines of economic growth and provide support to municipal leaders in planning and carrying out strategic local economic development.
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November 13, 2008
On Thursday, November 13, 2008, USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey will visit the Municipality of Bujanovac and together with the Director of the Coordination Body Nenad Djurdjevic and Mayors of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac sign a Memorandum of Understanding on joint cooperation in Local Economic Development. On the same occasion, the new Local Economic Development (LED) Office in Bujanovac, established with the support of USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity program, will also take place.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Press-Release (PDF, 13 Kb)    

October 29, 2008
On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter will visit Novi Pazar for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth program and the Mayor of Novi Pazar Mirsad Djerlek. The United States will support the City of Novi Pazar in creating a more favorable business environment by strengthening the City's organizational capacity to undertake activities related to local economic development.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Download (PDF, 25 Kb)   

October 16, 2008
On Thursday, October 16, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter will visit Novi Sad for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Acitivty and the Mayor of Novi Sad Igor Pavlicic. The United States will support the City of Novi Sad in creating a more favorable business environment by strengthening the City's organizational capacity to undertake activities related to local economic development.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Mou Signing (PDF, 25 Kb)  

September 30, 2008
On Tuesday, September 30, US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Municipal Economic Growth Activity, the National Alliance for Local Economic Development and the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development (MERD) are jointly organizing an official certification ceremony to recognize Serbia’s first three business friendly municipalities.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Press-Release (PDF, 20 Kb) 

September 24, 2008
On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter will visit Nis to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) Program and the Mayor of the City of Niš Miloš Simonović at Niš City Hall. The United States will support the City of Niš to create a more favorable business environment by strengthening the City's organizational capacity to undertake activities related to local economic development.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Mou Signing (PDF, 25 Kb) 

September 9, 2008
On Tuesday, September 9, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter, will witness the signing of MoUs between USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) Program and Mayors from 19 Municipalities in Serbia.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Mou Signing (PDF, 25 Kb) 

May 22, 2008
On May 22nd, a meeting of 21 Local Economic Development (LED) Offices will be held in Kraljevo. This is the first LED managers’ meeting following the expansion of the LED Network from 10 to 21 municipalities. USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey and the Mayor of Kraljevo Miloš Babić will officially address LED experts from 21 Serbian municipalities and participate at the working session. Heads of LED Offices will discuss best practices in investment attraction at the local level and exchange valuable experiences. 
Download Press Release as a PDF file: LEDO Meeting (PDF, 112 Kb)

April 24, 2008
On Thursday, April 24, at 13:00 p.m., in the Hotel “President” (Kovilovo Sporting Center), USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey will officially award Certificates to 10 municipalities in Serbia, as a proof that they are now experts in the field of local economic development (LEDO). Secretary General of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) Djordje Stanicic will participate at this Ceremony.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Awarding LEDO Certificates (PDF, 99 Kb)

April 9, 2008
On Wednesday, April 9,  at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, USAID and the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) will officially launch the Business Friendly Certification Program, by the signing a Memoranda of Understanding between Predrag Mihajlovic, President of the NALED Board, and Mladjan Dinkic, Minister of Economy and Regional Development. 
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Business Friendly Certification Program Launch (PDF, 91 Kb)

March 26, 2008
On Wednesday, March 26, 2008, USAID’s Enterprise Development and Economic Growth Director
James Stein will visit the City of Vrsac, where he will meet with Mayor Jovica Zarkula. On the same occasion, Mr. Stein and Mayor Zarkula will address the public at the official opening ceremony of Vrsac Local Economic Development Office (LEDO).
 Download Press Release as a PDF file: LEDO Vrsac Opening (PDF, 104 Kb)

March 19, 2008
On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter, will visit the Municipality of Pecinci, where he will exchange views on local economic development with Mayor Nikola Pavkovic. USAID Mission Director in Serbia Mike Harvey and Head of the USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity will accompany the Ambassador Munter during his visit to Pecinci.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: MEGA Pecinci (PDF, 69 Kb)

June 21, 2007
On Friday, June 22, 2007, U.S Ambassador to Serbia, Michael C. Polt will attend a ceremony at the Belgrade City Hall to announce the setting up of a grant fund, under the auspices of USAIDs Municipal Economic Development Activity (MEGA) Program, that will be used to stimulate and assist economic development projects deemed to fuel economic activity in ten Serbian municipalities that are participating in USAIDs program.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: About Grants Conference (PDF, 44 Kb)

May 30, 2007
The Financial Times on Investment Opportunities in Serbia: "SERBIA – WHERE RISKS ARE LOW AND PROFITS HIGH". On Wednesday, May 30, the most popular financial daily in the world, the Financial Times, published two articles about Serbia portraying it as an interesting destination for investors.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: About Financial Times Articles on Serbia (PDF, 76 Kb)

May 16, 2007
Seven Serbian municipalities to participate at Real Vienna, Real Estate and Investments Fair in Austria (May 23-25, 2007). MEGA-participating municipalities of Zrenjanin, Kragujevac, Vranje, Loznica, Subotica, Uzice and Krusevac will participate at Real Vienna, a Real Estate and Investments Fair, focused on the regions of Central and South East Europe, and organized by Reed Messe Wien in Vienna’s trade fair center on 23-25 May 2007.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: About 7 Serbian Municipalities at Vienna Fair (PDF, 42 Kb)

March 2, 2007
On March 2, 2007, the Financial Times published the article about changed image of foreign investors towards Serbia as well as the issues still troubling the country’s economy.  Extremely positive light was shined on the measures which the municipality of Zrenjanin implemented in order to attract foreign investors.  The municipality of Zrenjanin is one of the municipalities in which USAID-funded Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) is working to increase the municipal capacity for economic development, including assistance in foreign investment attraction.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: About Financial Times Article (PDF, 67 Kb)

February 8, 2007
U.S. Ambassador Michael C. Polt to Inaugurate Two New USAID Projects - On Tuesday, February 13, U.S. Ambassador Michael C. Polt, will present two new USAID-funded projects: the Serbia Contingency Planning and Economic Security (SCOPES) project and the Foreign and Domestic Investment Promotion project.  The event will take place in Kraljevo and Mr. Milos Babic, the Mayor of Kraljevo, as well as Brian Holst, and Steven Rosenberg, representing each of these projects respectively, will also be among the key note speakers at the event.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: SCOPES and MEGA FDI (PDF, 22 Kb)

October 12, 2006
Ambassador Michael C. Polt to Open American Corner and Local Economic Development Office in Subotica – On Thursday, October 12, Ambassador Polt and Mayor of Subotica Kucera will, along with the American corner, officially inaugurate the Local Economic Development (LED) Office in Subotica, established as part of the Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) program, funded by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Download Press Release as a PDF file: LEDO Subotica Opening (PDF, 23 Kb)

October 3, 2006
U.S. Ambassador to Open Local Economic Development Office in Krusevac – On Tuesday, October 3, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Michael C. Polt and Mayor of Kruševac Dragan Azdejkovic, will officially inaugurate the Local Economic Development (LED) Office in Krusevac, established as part of the Municipal Economic Growth program (MEGA), funded by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Download Press Release as a PDF file: LEDO Krusevac Opening (PDF, 64 Kb)

August 23, 2006
Municipalities Competing for Chance to Take Part in Chicago Business Fair – On Wednesday, August 23, ten municipalities which are currently participating in the USAID Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) will take part in an “Invest in Serbia” competition, to be held at the Hotel M in Belgrade.  During the competition the ten participating municipalities - Subotica, Zrenjanin, Indjija, Novi Beograd, Loznica, Uzice, Kragujevac, Krusevac, Prokuplje, and Vranje - will present their best practices, marketing and promotion materials and other tools aimed at attracting foreign and domestic investors.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: Invest in Serbia Competition (PDF, 67 Kb)

March 6, 2006
U.S. Ambassador to officially inaugurate the new USAID $ 24.5 million Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) and announce the creation of the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) – On Monday, March 6, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Michael C. Polt, will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Mayors of ten Serbian municipalities selected to participate in the first phase of the newest $24.5 million five year USAID-funded Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA), implemented by the Urban Institute.  
Download Press Release as a PDF file: MOU & NALED (PDF, 72 Kb)

February 21, 2006
Municipal Economic Growth Activity (MEGA) to Assist up to 24 Municipalities over Five Years – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today the preliminary details for MEGA, a $24.5 million local economic growth assistance project that will assist up to 24 Serbian municipalities for five years starting in 2006.  MEGA will build on the success of the USAID Serbia Local Government Reform Program (SLGRP) which began in 2001 and ends in September 2006.
Download Press Release as a PDF file: MEGA Project Startup (PDF, 71 Kb)