Opportunity for young entrepreneurs from Montenegro to gain experience abroad

The European Union has been implementing the cross-border exchange program "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs" for 12 years, which gives new or future entrepreneurs the opportunity to stay abroad and learn from experienced colleagues. Entrepreneurs from Montenegro also have the right to apply, who can do so through the online platform www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu at any time, given that the call is always open.

The program was presented in more detail during the Info Day, organized by the European Union in Montenegro and the Agency for Local Democracy in the EU Info Center, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Union of Young Entrepreneurs. On that occasion, the Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Oana Kristina Popa, pointed out that Erasmus for young entrepreneurs supports new businesses in the crucial phase of their development and helps them grow.

Montenegro has been a member of the program since 2015 and so far our entrepreneurs have mostly stayed in Sweden, Germany and Spain. From the point of view of the state, the Ministry of Economic Development is in charge of this program.

Ljiljana Belada from the Ministry of Economic Development said that EYE is implemented in 45 countries, which means that our entrepreneurs can reside or host entrepreneurs from all these countries. These are certainly all EU member states, candidate countries, but also Canada, America, Singapore, Israel, Taiwan, South Korea.

"The goal of the program is to support European entrepreneurs to gain experience, to learn, to network, and for a certain period of time to stay with experienced entrepreneurs in EU countries or other countries participating in the program. In that way, they strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit, acquire the necessary skills, create contacts and thus conditions for cross-border business, thus developing internationalization and competitiveness, "said Ljiljana.

She reminded that the EC has adopted a new Program for 2021-2027, Single Market Program, within which support for these and similar projects will continue, the Ministry has already expressed interest in participating, and started the first formal negotiations. The signing of the Agreement on the new financial framework is expected in early 2022.

"In this way, we want to continue to provide preconditions for Montenegrin companies to participate in this EU program, with the hope that as many young entrepreneurs as possible will take part and use the benefits that this project provides," concluded Belada.