The overall project aim was to spread common awareness among Italian SMEs about business opportunities in the Balkan area and to stress the strategic importance of these markets for the future Italian economic development. The main project activity was the training of 15 young Italian operators in the field of SME assistance and consulting. The training aimed at providing a support system to the Italian SME with young and competent specialists skilled in business economics, EU, multilateral and cooperation programmes with a good knowledge of the local culture. The final intention was to facilitate Italian SMEs, especially those located in North-Eastern Italy, in establishing more business opportunities with their Balkan counterparts. In order to achieve all these aims the project foresaw the implementation of a training programme for young Italian graduates in economics and law. The training consisted of a theoretical part and an internship experience to be held both in Italian and Balkan SME support agencies and service centres. The final project objective was the integration of those human resources in Italian agencies and service centres providing support to SMEs and thus the enhancement of the development of new and high-quality services to be made available to Italian enterprises willing to develop their activity in the Balkans.

Type of service

Project design, Organization and Management.

Co-ordination of project activities.

Provide qualified training to the beneficiaries.

Organization of Internships.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting.