Western Balkans Manufacturing Value Chains

completed

The project goal is to improve the integration of the Western Balkans (WB) manufacturing firms into intra-regional and European value chains. This will be achieved by a) increasing connectedness of local manufacturing firms to offtakers and FDIs in WB and Eurozone through a match-making platform, b) strengthening local manufacturing capabilities to qualify for offtakers and FDIs through private and public sector initiatives, and c) improving enabling environment, including working on regulatory issues and facilitation of access to finance. The project is designed specifically as a sub-regional project focusing on Serbia, Republic of North Macedonia and Kosovo, using a multi-pronged approach that combines work on public and private sector levels with support for firms across the region to leverage their combined strengths. The project will also aid to the recovery efforts in post-COVID 19 situation, specifically through: i) greater visibility and prompt connectivity of supply chains through platform, ii) support WB firms to leverage opportunities created by changing supply chains strategies of FDIs in Eurozone (specifically more focus on nearshoring and near-sourcing) through improving capabilities and iii) providing advice to public agencies that adjust their supplier development initiatives to post-COVID economic recovery. Advisory services under will be provided across the light manufacturing value chains (automotive, appliances construction machinery, infrastructure machinery, agri and transportation machinery) and focusing on achieving scale on the WB sub-regional basis.