Newsletter on Mentoring Service in February 2024

February 2024

MENTORING NEWS Strengthening and Expanding the Mentoring Service for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Balkan Countries

The Mentoring Forum: Signi cance of mentoring stayed in focus

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he Mentoring Forum was held in Belgrade on December 7th 2023 organized by the Development Agency of Serbia, marking its return after a four-year pause. The event brought together mentors from regional development agencies, representatives of companies – mentoring bene ciaries, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia.

This year's Forum focused on the signi cance of mentoring as one of the most signi cant type of non- nancial support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, exploring ways to further enhance this service in Serbia and the broader region.

Speakers at the Mentoring Forum included Katarina Obradović Jovanović, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia; Radoš Gazdić, Acting Director of the Development Agency of Serbia; Masahiro Ueki, Head of the JICA Of ce for the Balkans; and Ana Zegarac, Project Manager for Mentoring at the Development Agency of Serbia. Masahiro Ueki, the Head of the JICA Of ce for the Balkans, stressed the crucial importance of providing non- nancial support to enterpris-

bene ted from free of charge standardized mentoring services. Gazdić underscored that mentoring services are free for users and are implemented through programs nanced by the budgets of the Ministry of Economy and RAS. Certi ed mentors from 17 accredited regional

es, such as mentoring. Radoš Gazdić, Acting Director of RAS, emphasized that the establishment of standardized mentoring services and the implementation of this form of non- nancial support for micro, small, and mediumsized enterprises have been supported from the outset by the Ministry of Economy. He highlighted that mentoring services have been implemented in Serbia for over 17 years, as result of the longstanding collaboration between the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Development Agency of Serbia. Over the years, more than 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and clusters in Serbia have

development agencies conduct these services, trained ture for mentoring implementation, carry out mentoring using the mentor training methodology and the "On-the- in Serbia and how this service is integrated into partnerJob Training" practice developed in collaboration with ships with local and international partners.

Japanese experts.

The joint collaboration with the Japan International CoopAssistant Minister of the Economy, Katarina Obradović eration Agency is realized through the project Jovanović, praised the Mentoring program as an excel- "Strenghtening and Expanding the Mentoring Service for lent example of how long-term perseverance and collab- Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Balkans," oration can yield sustainable results. She expressed aiming to establish and successfully implement standardgratitude to the Japanese government for its support in ized mentoring services in Serbia and the entire region building and improving the mentoring system in Serbia. (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North MaceShe emphasized that mentors are currently the best donia).

support that development agencies have in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises. The leader of the mentoring project, Ana Zegarac, highlighted that the Forum provided an opportunity to assess how accredited regional development agencies, as institutional infrastruc-

More than 150 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises have improved their operations through a mentoring program

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n Montenegro, more than 150 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises have participated in the mentoring program of the Ministry of Economic Development, with as many as 95 percent of them stating that this experience signi cantly contributed to improving their operations and achieving development goals.

"If we look at the numbers, 156 companies had the opportunity to use the mentoring program, of which more than 95 percent expressed satisfaction with the program, considering it extremely helpful in their development," Jovetić said. He mentioned that 25 certi ed mentors are involved in the program, directly assisting companies.

The event was organized within the project "Strengthening and expanding mentoring services in the Western Balkans - phase III" implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development under the Technical Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Japan and Montenegro, through that government department and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This was announced at the event "Selection of Mentor "For this year, we have planned to continue the proof the Year - MENTOR AWARD 2022/2023", which was gram, which will be improved in the upcoming period. organized by the Ministry of Economic Development.

A special focus during the program will be on training companies to use the Japanese model and way of The State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Devel- working - KAIZEN, aimed at continuously improving opment, Goran Jovetić, reminded that the ministry work every day," Jovetić said. continuously supports micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, emphasizing their dedication to the mentor- The head of the JICA of ce for the Balkans, Ueki Masaing program, which represents a form of non- nancial hiro, reminded that the agency has a long history of support. He highlighted the effects of the mentoring mentoring programs, stating that they are proud that it program and its results. has been implemented in Montenegro since 2008.

"Mentoring is a professional service based on the Japanese model, with a special emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. Mentoring represents a process of joint work between mentors and companies regarding the analysis of the current situation and de ning the next activities for their further development. The program also includes consulting in terms of seeking funds, support in nding partners, and using new technologies," Masahiro explained.

Winners

He clari ed that companies, after the mentoring program, have very visible results such as increased sales, a greater presence in the market, restructuring within the company, and an increased number of service users.

The best mentors of the year were selected as Filip Mihailović, who received the rst prize, Ivana Tomašević, who won the second place, and Dragan Bulatović, who came third.

At the "Mentor Award" ceremony, the most successful mentor from North Macedonia was selected What is mentoring? *

Mentoring is timely, continuous, wide-ranging nonnancial support developed and standardized during long time cooperation between Serbian Agency and JICA.

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Since 2013, the SME Mentoring Service has been introduced to BiH and Montenegro. From 2017, it has been offered in North Macedonia. As of 2023, the SME Mentoring Service is available in these four Western Balkan countries.

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It is a professional service, with an emphasis on growth potential and with the aim to help, micro and SMEs.

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Mentoring represents the process of joint work of certi ed mentors and entrepreneurs on analyses of current position and de nition of further activities for future growth.

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Comprehensive support of 25 – 50 free of charge hours through an individual approach at the company.

Who are the mentors?

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he "Mentor Award" is an ac- Salajdin Idrizi. In addition to the main knowledgment aimed at reward- award, authorizations were also granted ing the most accomplished men- to ve OJT Instructors and three CRT tors in North Macedonia. At the cere- Trainers in various categories. mony organized on December 21st 2023 in Skopje by the "Agency for the Furthermore, at the "Mentor Award" Promotion of Entrepreneurship of the event, the director of APPRSM, Mr. Republic of North Macedo- Imer Imeri, and the representative of nia" (APPRSM) and the "Japan Interna- JICA in North Macedonia, Mr. Sasho tional Cooperation Agency" (JICA), a Dimitrov, addressed the attendees. large number of nominated mentors attended.

The ceremony was also utilized for the presentation of the results of the conAfter the voting and evaluation of the ducted research among users of menvotes, the award was presented to Mr. toring services in 2022 in the regional

centers of Kumanovo, Bitola, Ohrid, Tetovo, Strumica, and Skopje, including discussions on how to proceed with the program's implementation.

The awards ceremony is part of the project "Strengthening and Expanding Mentoring Services for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Balkans," a joint project of the "Agency for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship of the Republic of North Macedonia" (APPRSM) and the "Japan International Cooperation Agency" (JICA).

* The service is provided by the mentors, certi ed for successfully completed theoretical and practical standardized mentoring trainings. * Mentors have valuable experience in supporting SME sector gained through the years of professional work.

MENTORING NEWS Strengthening and Expanding the Mentoring Service for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Balkan Countries