Mayor of Gračanica municipality, Srđan Popović and representatives of the German organization Help awarded today 18 contracts for the empowerment and launching of small businesses worth 30 thousand euros.
Out of 50 applicants, who have been shortlisted, 18 of them from the territory of Gračanica municipality, who will start or strengthen their business by the Help donation, were selected.
Greeting all the attendees in the Hall of the Municipal Assembly of Gračanica where the signing of the contracts was done, the Mayor of Gračanica municipality, Srđan Popović said the project was very important for the economic development of the municipality. He thanked the representatives of Help for cooperation and told the winners of the donation to justify the trust they had been given and professionally use the opportunity given to them.
“Such activities are very important for our municipality. Like last year, we will continue to insist on investing in economic development as much as possible. Today we have helped 18 of our businessmen, people who have developed their businesses and want to stay and live here. This cooperation that we have with the German organization Help is very good, and what pleases us is that this cooperation will also continue in the future”, Popović said.
Senior Field Officer of Help, Rezart Shala said that the job was not easy and that there would certainly be those dissatisfied, but he thought the job was well done and that the best candidates were selected.
“There were many applications from various fields of business at the competition. We tried to choose the best clients. 30 thousand euros were secured in which the Municipality of Gračanica participates with 30 percent”, said Shala.
The contract signers are pleased that they have been given the opportunity to launch and develop their mini-businesses. They thank the Municipality of Gračanica and Help for the given opportunity.
“I applied for a carpentry workshop, and finally after 20 years, I managed to provide something that would help me to improve the work according to the craft I perform”, said one of the winners, Miloš Dejanović.
“I have been working in Gračanica for 20 years and I own the hairdressing salon “Laki”. The equipment in my hair salon in Gračanica has been worn out. I heard about the competition and I wanted to try, because so far, I invested everything in my hairdressing saloon on my own. Thanks to everyone who recognized my work and see you with new haircuts”, says Milutin Tomić.
“I applied for help in grass cutters. I have been supporting a ten-member family and this will greatly help me to provide safe sources of income with my work”, said Šaćir Tairović.
The signees will soon receive equipment worth about 2,000 euros. According to announcements, the Help project will be implemented next year as well.
