The Regional Development Fund of Western Macedonia is implementing the project REBORN under Interreg Europe 2014–2020: “Strengthening entrepreneurship and competitiveness by supporting SMEs facing financial difficulties”. The project supports small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs undergoing bankruptcy or facing serious difficulties that could lead to closure. It is implemented by six partners in six European regions: 1) FILSE Financial Agency of Liguria Region, Lead Partner – Italy; 2) Murcia Business Innovation Centre (BIC Murcia, CEEIM) – Spain; 3) Agency for Enterprise & Innovation – Belgium; 4) IFKA Public Benefit Non-Profit Ltd for the Development of the Industry – Hungary; 5) Regional Development Fund of Western Macedonia – Greece; 6) Lubelskie Voivodeship – Poland.
The project’s main objective is to improve the business environment and boost the competitiveness of SMEs in the region.
As part of the project, the Regional Development Fund organised the Third International Thematic Workshop on “Capacity Building for Entrepreneurs” which attracted particular interest from organisations & researchers working on regional strategic planning, as this is the first international project on second -chance entrepreneurship implemented in Western Macedonia. The workshop took place on 11 April 2018 in the Regional Council meeting hall of the Kozani Regional Unit.
The Director of the Regional Development Fund, Mr Dimitrios Mavromatidis, presented information on project implementation in Western Macedonia. Representatives from Hungary’s Ministry for National Economy, Modena in Italy and Liège in Belgium delivered interesting presentations on the strategic management of second -chance entrepreneurship.
Mr Georgios Amanatidis, Director of ANKO S.A., presented developments concerning the Western Macedonia Development Fund (TADYM). Mr Ilias Georgopoulos, representative of IME GSEVEE, presented the Early Warning Europe (EWE) project as a good practice. The Head of the Managing Authority for the Western Macedonia Regional Operational Programme, Mr Charalambos Kiourtsidis, discussed opportunities to assist and support SMEs facing difficulties.
The workshop concluded with a discussion and presentation of the event’s findings. In his remarks, the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia, Mr Thodoros Karypidis, emphasised that these issues are among the Region’s main priorities.
At a separate working meeting held that afternoon at the Kozani Chamber of Commerce, the international partners explained their approach to business support to its President, Mr Sarris, and the other Chamber representatives present. A dedicated session gave everyone a detailed presentation of the parallel & related project Early Warning Europe, a good practice from Greece, which is expected to start being implemented in Western Macedonia in the coming months. The ways in which the Kozani Chamber of Commerce could cooperate with and participate alongside the Region of Western Macedonia were discussed in detail.
