News/Press

Boost for SMEs as GLS Bank invests €27.9 million in European Fund for Southeast Europe
12/01/2018
GLS Bank has made its second investment in the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE). With its purchase of €27.9 million in EFSE notes, the bank is continuing to join forces with EFSE to ensure access to financing for micro and small enterprises and to support low-income private households in Southeast Europe and the European Eastern Neighbourhood Region, where it operates under the...
EU4Business project launches Armenia Startup Academy
Armenia
 | 
31/12/2017
The Armenia Startup Academy (ASA) was officially launched in Yerevan this month, based at the Hero House in the Armenian capital. The initiative is supported by the EU4Business SMEDA project (Support to SME Development in Armenia) , and implemented by the Catalyst Foundation, with the aim of boosting the startup ecosystem and bringing Armenian startups to the next level. With the help of a team...
Armenia: SME environment improved but key challenges remain OECD report finds
Armenia
 | 
21/12/2017
Policies to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have recently improved in Armenia, but key challenges remain and pose obstacles for the development and internationalisation of SMEs, an OECD report on ‘ Monitoring SME policy reforms in Armenia’ , produced under the EU4Business initiative, has found. The report was produced as part of the Supporting SME...
three MoUs were signed between Armenian and Iranian companies at the Forum
‘Change mindset’ and ‘show your potential!’ – IT to boost Armenia's economy
Armenia
 | 
04/12/2017
More than 150 young people from the regions of Armenia got together with representatives of the government and international organisations to take part in the ‘Empowering Regions Through High Tech’ conference organised by the EU4Business SMEDA project in Gyumri over two days last month. Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia, is aiming to become the IT capital of Armenia with its...
Story-telling for crowdfunding campaigns – growing sustainable small businesses in Armenia
Armenia
 | 
29/11/2017
The EU4Business project for ‘Support to SME development in Armenia’ (SMEDA), in cooperation with the Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy and Goldsmiths University of London, is organizing a three-day training for Armenian startups and a one-day training for marketing companies, taking place on 5-8 December. The training will cover the start-up journey that businesses need to go on to successfully...
Eastern Partnership Summit steps up business support pledges
28/11/2017
The 5th Eastern Partnership Summit took place in Brussels on 24 November, marking the achievements of the last two years in the EU's relationships with its six Eastern partners, while looking forward to implementing 20 deliverables by 2020 that will bring tangible benefits to citizens, including significant pledges in the area of business support. The Summit brought together Heads of State or...
2017 Eastern Partnership Summit: Stronger together
24/11/2017
Brussels, 24 November 2017 The 5th Eastern Partnership Summit took place today in Brussels. It was a moment to celebrate the achievements of the last two years in the EU's relationships with its six Eastern partners, and to look forward to implementing 20 deliverables by 2020 that will bring tangible benefits to citizens. The Summit, held at the level of Heads of State or Government, brought...
EUROCHAMBRES calls for greater efforts to improve business climate in Eastern Partnership region
23/11/2017
On the eve of the 5th Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Brussels, EUROCHAMBRES – the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry and a key partner of the EU4Business initiative in the East Invest programme – has called for a strong political engagement of the European Union in the EaP countries, and underlined the importance of further economic reforms, development of the private...
Eastern Partnership summit: future cooperation for real benefits
20/11/2017
The 5 th Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit will take place in Brussels on Friday, 24 November, bringing together heads of state and government from EU member states and the six Eastern partner countries. Among the priority areas to be discussed are economic development and better market opportunities. The leaders will look forward to future cooperation, as well as taking stock of what has been...
SMEDA launches call for mapping of textile and apparel sector in Armenia
Armenia
 | 
18/10/2017
The EU4Business SMEDA project (Support to SME development in Armenia) has announced a Call for Applications open to companies, experts or consortia to conduct a sectoral study of Textile/Apparel/Leather/Shoes/Fashion Design businesses in Armenia. The deadline for applications is 8 November, 2017, 18:00. The textile and apparel industry is one of the 11 strategic export-oriented sectors in Armenia...