USAID organizes regional event

SKOPJE, June 15 – A Regional Finance Fair and Matchmaking Event took place in Skopje this week, bringing entrepreneurs from across Southeast Europe together with investors and other finance providers to explore specific finance opportunities and expand business networks in the region.
USAID’s Partners for Financial Stability (PFS) program and Regional Competitiveness Initiative (RCI) co-hosted the event, with over one hundred entrepreneurs from Albania, Bosnia, FYR Macedonia and Serbia participating.
Prominent finance and business professionals led sessions examining such topics as innovative finance and investment products in a post-economic crisis environment, venture capital, finance for agribusiness, and financial consultants, followed by informal networking opportunities and pre-arranged matchmaking activities between investors and entrepreneurs – providing participants an optimal venue to network and build new business relationships.
Joseph Lessard, USAID Macedonia Economic Growth Office Director, highlighted the achievements of the USAID Macedonia Competitiveness Project in assisting over 120 firms to access finance and increase their competitiveness over the last two years. He added that he was proud “to see that our success has been recognized and that PFS and RCI are looking into expanding our financial matchmaking model to a regional level.”