NALED Evaluation Team, within the Certification of Business -friendly Municipalities, stayed on two-day visit to the town of Sombor, during which a series of meetings with representatives of local self-governments were held.

The following day, NALED Evaluation Team had a chance to talk with the representatives of Department of Utility Services, City Development Directorate and PE City Planning, about a process of issuing building permits, and also on theme of building and industrial land, and infrastructure and utility services. Finally, after visiting the City Service Center, it was talked with Ms. Mira Jovicevic, Head of Department of Finance, among other things, about credit capacity of the city of Sombor.

On 29th June 2010 in business premises of the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (hereinafter NALED), the Meeting I of Working Group for Entrepreneurial Development was held.

NALED was selected to lead the Working Group for Entrepreneurial Development, and the Managing Structure of WG consists of:

 Representatives of Entrepreneurs Association

 Representatives of Regional Chambers of Commerce

 Representatives of Offices for Local Economic Development

 Representatives of RDAES

 Representatives of relevant Republic Agencies (SBRA, Agency for Regional Development)

A special place was provided for Representatives of Ministry (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Ministry of Trade, etc.) who will be invited if necessary.

At the meeting, the participants were familiar with the goals and program of GTZ-KWD. It was made a brief overview of problems identified in Planning Workshop held in March, as follows:

• Insufficiently improved dialogue between public and private sector

• Guillotine of regulations on national level

• Undeveloped entrepreneur spirit and culture

• Insufficient financial support on local level

• Problems with obtaining building permits on local level

• Undeveloped infrastructure

• Lack of project technical documentation for infrastructure projects

• Problems with functioning of existing industrial zones

• Lack of industrial zones

• Lack of developed mechanisms for Public Private Partnerships

• Migration of skilled staff

• Insufficient cooperation between local self-government and local entrepreneurs and SME

During the meeting, there were discussed problems with which entrepreneurs are most often facing, as well as the ways to overcome them in order to more effectively contribute to the future municipal development.

An agreement was reached to begin analyzing the existing situation, to apply to SBRA for certain data which would be significant for municipalities, to necessarily conduct a dialogue with relevant local entrepreneurs, and also, to work on education of entrepreneurs and others in order to wake up entrepreneurial awareness in them.

At the follow up of the visit, evaluation team had an opportunity to assure of dedication of employees in the City Administration especially in the area of environment, developing odf SMEs and agriculture.

Over the past decades the City of Cacak was considered as one of centers for growth and preservation of enterpreneurship. Today, the City of Cacak continuos to keep the spirit of enterpreneurship and domestic industry.

On 12-13 May 2010 NALED evaluation team, according to program certification of business friendly municipalities, visited the Municipality of Pirot.

The second day of the visit evaluators were met with representatives of the department of city planning, housing communal services, construction and inspections, as well as with representatives of public utility companies who presented their role and mutual cooperation.

After the visit to the Municipality of Pirot will be sent a report in which will be introduced the results achieved by the Municipality as well as recommendations for improvement of cooperation with the local economy.

Panelists at this conference included prominent experts from the region such as: Violeta Jovanovic, NALED Executive Director, Dusan Vasiljevic, Head of Policy Team in USAID Municipal Economic Growth Activity, Dragoljub Davidovic, Mayor of Banja Luka, Drago Vucic Agency for promotion of foreign investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, Office of Banja Luka, Valentin Ilievski, MESSER BH Gas, Bozica Lapic, Deputy Director of the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments of the Republic of Croatia, Goran Jesic, Mayor of Indjija, Marko Pavic, Mayor of Prijedor, etc.

Conference participants had a unique opportunity to gain practical guidance and expand a network of partners for further co-operation, reform and improved quality of business ambiance in their countries.