News/Press

EU allocates €14.5m for SME development in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
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06/03/2017
The EU has allocated €14.5 million to Azerbaijan as part of the country’s regional development programme. It envisages a wide range of measures, from twinning and technical assistance to the creation of a business information system in rural area s, improved support for the development of SMEs in rural areas and family farming, the introduction of agriculture consulting services system, and...
EU and Azerbaijan enter negotiations for new partnership agreement
Azerbaijan
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06/03/2017
The EU intends to expand dialogue and cooperation with Azerbaijan as the two parties begin negotiations for a comprehensive new partnership agreement that will better address their shared challenges, said Christian Danielsson, director general for neighbourhood and enlargement negotiations at the European Commission. Mr Danielsson was speaking during a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart...
EIB launches support for SMEs at Kiev conference as part of EU4Business
10/02/2017
An EU-backed programme enabling the European Investment Bank to further enhance its support to SMEs in Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries was launched at a conference in Kiev on 10 February. The goal of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) Initiative East programme is to strengthen economic development in the target countries by providing financial and technical...
New funding available for tech start-ups in Armenia
Armenia
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24/01/2017
The Science and Technology Entrepreneurship (STEP) programme has launched a new funding cycle to provide tech start-ups with money to get their products to market and create new ventures. STEP funds teams of scientists, researchers, engineers working in fields like Biotech, CleanTech and engineering. Those that receive grants will get: Access to seed funding Mentoring and network opportunities...
Video of press conference
Grants available for technology SMEs in Armenia
Armenia
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21/12/2016
New grants are now available to Armenian SMEs through the project ‘ Support to SME Development in Armenia’ ( SMEDA). Co-financing is available in under two strands of SMEDA: Innovation Matching Grant (IMG). Grants of €30 000-€50 000 Science and Technology Entrepreneurship (STEP) . Grants of €15 000 Companies must be SMEs working in the technology sector (for example in engineering, Cleantech or...
Global competitiveness key for Georgian SMEs
Global competitiveness key for Georgian SMEs
Georgia
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29/11/2016
A new financial package from the European Union is bringing new opportunities for Georgian SMEs and supporting their operations abroad The EBRD has allocated a USD 50 million credit facility in the Georgian national currency, the lari, to Bank of Georgia. The financial package is to help local SMEs invest in improvements to product quality and modernise their services to meet EU standards, said...
New law on SMEs enters force
New law on SMEs enters force
Moldova
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29/11/2016
Approved by the Moldovan Parliament, it defines a new legal framework for SMEs in Moldova and includes measures to stimulate the sustainable development of the sector The new legislation, approved by the Parliament and published in the Official Gazette, will come into force in the last quarter of 2016. It replaces the current law on development of the SME sector, defining a new legal framework...
Improving SME regulations in Ukraine
Improving SME regulations in Ukraine
Ukraine
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29/11/2016
The FORBIZ project focuses on improving the regulatory framework for SMEs in Ukraine and strengthening government-private sector dialogue Ukraine’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the EU Delegation to Ukraine have launched FORBIZ, a leading business support project in the framework of the EU4Business initiative funded by the EU. FORBIZ focuses on three areas: improving regulatory...
€50 m financing for innovative companies
€50 m financing for innovative companies
Ukraine
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29/11/2016
The EIF has signed an agreement with ProCredit Bank in Ukraine to finance innovative companies to the tune of €50 million The European Investment Fund and JSC “ProCredit Bank” have signed the first agreement in the framework of the project “InnovFin” (EU finance for innovators) – an initiative supported by the European Commission, aimed at raising funds for the development of innovative projects...
OECD EURASIA WEEK
OECD EURASIA WEEK - Competitiveness lies at the heart of reform
24/11/2016
The six Eastern Partnership countries are all members of the Eurasia region of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and as such participated in the 3rd OECD Eurasia Week, held in Paris from 22 to 24 November. They are also all members of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable, which also met during the Paris week and acts as barometer of the progress they have...