G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
20 March  2018 
(18-1673) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
SUBSIDIES  
NEW AND FULL NOTIFIC ATION PURSUANT TO AR TICLE XVI:1 OF THE  
GATT 1994 AND ARTICL E 25 OF THE AGREEMEN T ON 
SUBSIDIES AND COUNTE RVAILING MEASURES  
THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA  
The following communication, dated 2 March  2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia . 
 
_______________  
 
In accordance with Article 25 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and in 
response to the do cument G/SCM/N/315 , the Government of the Republic of Macedonia notifies the 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures data supplied by the authority in charge of the 
subsidy, as related in program financed by the State Budget for 2018. The notification covers program i n 
the following categories: support and development of small and medium sized enterprises, 
implementation of industrial policy and support and development of the cluster association. The 
notification provided in this notification is for transparency purpos es. The amount of support is shown in 
Macedonian Denars (MKD).  
  G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
1   SUPPORT AND DEVELOPM ENT OF SMALL AND MED IUM SIZED ENTERPRISE S .............  2 
2   IMPLEMENTATION OF IN DUSTRIAL POLICY  ................................ ................................  4 
3   SUPPORT AND DEVELOPM ENT OF THE CLUSTER A SSOCIATION  ................................ ... 5 
 
 
1  SUPPORT AND DEVELOPM ENT OF SMALL AND MED IUM SIZED ENTERPRISE S 
1. Title of the subsidy programme, if relevant, or brief description or identification of the subsidy   
"Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and Entrepreneurship for 2018 " 
2. Period covered by the  notification  
2018 
3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy  
The support is given for:  
1. Support of the crafts:  
1.1. Artisans and practitioners of crafts  
1.2. Projects of craft chambers and foundations and associations of citizens for  development and 
promotion of  crafts  
2. Support for micro, small and medium enterprises : 
2.1.  Purchase of equipment and tools; product design and visual identity design of the 
product/service, website, logo design, advertising material and participation at domestic 
fairs 
3. Support of female entrepreneurship :  
 
3.1.  Purchase of equipment and tools; regulation and improvement of the business space and  
product  design and visual identity design of the product/service, website, logo design, 
advertising material  
 
4.  Reimbursement to business entities for certification of quality systems according to 
ISO standards . 
 
5.  Support for introduction and certification of HALAL system . 
6.  Projects for development and support of SMEs and promotion of entrepreneurship : 
 
6.1. Promotion and training for alternative sources of financing of SME;  
6.2. Promotion, training and forums for the female entrepreneurship;  
6.3. B2B meetings and Networking, and  
6.4. Promotional activities (organization of fairs and manifestations)  
 
7.  Projects  for pro gram activities of the business angel networks .  
8.   Support for establishment of new technological park within the Universities . 
9.   Apart of costs of approved projects under the EU program COSME .  
10.  Support  of SMEs for using consulting services .  G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
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  11.  Support enterprises for purchasing of equipment, instruments, tools that will serve 
and will be used exclusively for training, teaching of persons for acquiring occupations .  
12. Education of employees attending trainings for their professional upgrad e.  
13. Promotional activities  referring to organizing presentations in eight planning regions.  
4. Background and authority for the subsidy (including identificationa of the legislationa under 
which it is granted)  
 
Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and  Entrepreneurship for 2018 is published in the 
Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 17/2018 . Authority responsible for the subsidy: 
Ministry of Economy.  
 
The procedure for allocation of funds is carried out by launching public calls on the web -site of the 
Ministry of Economy :  
 
www. economy.gov.mk; and  
www.konkurentnost.mk.  
 
5. Form of the subsidy (i.e. grant, loan, tax concession, etc.)  
 
The subsidy is granted in the form of grant.  
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided (whether to producers, t o exporters, or others: 
through what mechanism: whether a fixed or fluctuating amount per unit: if the latter, how 
determined)  
 
The support is given in the form of compensation of part of the expenses of the companies and 
associations -applicants. The Minis try of Economy compensates the following by items:  
 
- 20% of documented expenses but not more than 1.000.000 MKD for each company for 
item 9;  
- 50% of documented expenses but not more than 12.000 MKD for each company for item 12 
and 1.200.000 MKD for each company for item 11;  
- 70% of documented expenses but not more than 60.00 0 MKD for each company for 
item 10; then not more than 100.000 MKD for each  company for item 4; than not more than 
150.000 MKD for each company for items 1.1; 1.2 and 3; then not more than 200.000 MKD 
for each company for item 5 and 300.000 MKD for each company for item 2; and not more 
than 500.000 MKD for each company for item 7 ;  
- 75% of documented expenses but not more than 1.500.000 MKD for item 8; and  
- Maximum amount of expenses per project 200.000 MKD for each company for item 6;  
 
7. Subsidy per unit or in cases where this is not possible, the total amount or the annual 
amount budgeted for that subsidy (indicating, if possible, the average subsidy per unit in the 
previous year). Where provision of per unit subsidy information (for the year covered by the 
notification, for the previous year, or both) is not possible, a full expla nation  
 
The annual amount budgeted for the subsidy is 38.390.000 MKD allocated by items:  
 
1.  Support of crafts - 3.410.000 MKD;  
2.  Support for micro, small and medium enterprises - 20.000.000 MKD;  
3.  Support of female entrepreneurship – 2.000.000 MKD ; 
4.  Reimbursement to business entities for certification of quality systems according to ISO 
standards – 800.000 MKD;  
5.  Support for introduction and certification of HALAL system – 2.200.000 MKD;  
6.  Projects for development and support of SMEs and pro motion of entrepreneurship  – 
2.000.000 MKD;  
7.  Projects  for program activities of the business angel networks – 1.000.000 MKD;   
8.  Support for establishment of new technological park within the Universities – 
1.500.000 MKD;  
9.  Apart of costs of approved projects under the EU program COSME – 1.000.000 MKD;  G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
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  10.  Support  of SMEs for using consulting services – 1.200.000 MKD;   
11.  Support part of expenses of enterprises for purchase of equipment, instruments, tools 
that will serv e and will be used exclusively for training, teaching of persons for 
acquiring occupations – 2.400.000 MKD;   
12.  Support part of costs for education of employees attending trainings for their 
professional upgrade – 600.000 MKD;  
13. Promotional activitie s referring to organizing presentations in eight planning regions – 
280.000 MKD . 
8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time limits attached to it, including date of 
inception/commencement  
One year - 2018 
9. Statistical data  
Such statistical data on trade effects of the Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and 
Entrepreneurship  in the Republic of Macedonia is not available. The subsidy is given mostly to 
small and medium sized companies and associations, and there is a very  small effect on trade.   
2  IMPLEMENTATION OF IN DUSTRIAL POLICY  
1. Title of the subsidy programme, if relevant, or brief description or identification of the subsidy  
"Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and Entrepreneurship for 2018 " 
2. Period covered by the notification  
2018 
3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy  
The objective of the subsidy is to increase the competitiveness of the Macedonian economy 
through support of enterprises from the manufacturing industry, development of design solution 
and ma rket research studies as well marketing strategies; development of energy efficiency 
projects and/or introduction of the standard for energy management ISO 50001 and certificate of 
conformity  
4. Background and authority for the subsidy (including identificati ona of the legislationa under which 
it is granted)  
Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and Entrepreneurship for 2018  is published in the Official 
Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 17/2018 . Authority responsible for the subsidy: Ministry of 
Economy.  
The procedure for allocation of funds is carried out by launching public calls on the web -site of the 
Ministry of Economy :  
 
www. economy.gov.mk; and  
www.konkurentnost.mk.  
 
5. Form of the subsidy (i.e. grant, loan, tax concession, etc.)  
 
The subsidy is granted in the form of grant.  
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided (whether to producers, to exporters, or others: 
through what mechanism: whether a fixed or fluctuating amount per unit: if the latter, how 
determined)  
 
1. Support for increasing the competitiveness of the business entities from the manufacturing 
industry . G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
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  1.1  Business entities for development of the business entity, product development and 
development of a market;  
 
1.1.1  Preparation of technical documentation for a new product, ie, improvement of 
the existing product and/or preparation of an industrial design/product 
redesign;  
1.1.2  Development of design solution and/or printing of: new packaging, labeling, 
product logo and promotional printed materials;  
1.1.3  Development of market research stud ies and/or marketing strategies and/or 
brand development activities;  
1.1.4  Development of energy efficiency projects and/or introduction of the standard 
for energy management ISO 50001;  
1.1.5  Procurement of specific software of importance for the promotion of the 
business activities of the enterprise;  
1.1.6  Providing  certifi cate of conformity of a product;  
1.1.7  Preparation of technical -project documentation or study for technical feasibility 
for: planned investment projects, preparation of the company for increasing 
energy effic iency, establishment of an internal waste management system and 
environmental protection system.  
 
1.2.  Organizing specialized trainings - in-depth and detailed technological trainings in the 
following sectors: automobile, textile, food processing and meta l processing industry .  
2.  Preparation of strategic documents and analyzes for the needs of the industry.  
7. Subsidy per unit or in cases where this is not possible, the total amount or the annual 
amount budgeted for that subsidy (indicating, if possible, the average subsidy per unit in the 
previous year). Where provision of per unit subsidy information (for the year covered by the 
notification, for the previous year, or both) is not possible, a full explanation  
 
1. The annual amount budgeted for the subsid y is 3.800.000 MKD allocated by items:  
 
1.1 Support for increasing the competitiveness of the business entities from the manufacturing 
industry  - 2.500.000 MKD;  
 
1.2.  Organizing specialized trainings - in-depth and detailed technological trainings in the 
following sectors: automobile, textile, food processing and metal processing industry – 
600.000 MKD . 
2.  Preparation of strategic documents and analyzes for the need s of the industry – 
700.000 MKD.   
The Ministry of Economy compensates 75% of documented exp enses but not more than 180.000 
MKD for each business entity for items 1.1.1; 1.1.2; 1.1.3; 1.1.4; 1.1.5; 1.1.6 and 1.1.7; and 
75% of documented expenses for organization and realization of training for item 1.2;  
 
8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time limits attached to it, including date of 
inception/commencement  
One year – 2018 
9. Statistical data  
Such statistical data on trade effects of the Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and 
Entrepreneurship  in the Republic of Macedonia is not available.  
3  SUPPORT AND DEVELOPM ENT OF THE CLUSTER A SSOCIATION  
1. Title of the subsidy programme, if relevant, or brief description or identification of the subsidy   
"Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and Entrepreneurship for 2018 " G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
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  2. Period covered by the notifica tion 
2018 
3.  Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy  
The objective of the subsidy is to support projects from cluster associations, as are clusters for 
innovative and international oriented businesses . 
4. Background and authority for the subsidy (including identificationa of the legislationa under 
which it is granted)  
Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and Entrepreneurship for 2018  is published in the Official 
Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 17/2018 . Authority responsible for the sub sidy: Ministry of 
Economy.  
The procedure for allocation of funds is carried out by launching public calls on the web -site of the 
Ministry of Economy : 
www. economy.gov.mk; and  
www.konkurentnost.mk.  
5. Form of the subsidy (i.e. grant, loan, tax concession, etc.) 
The subsidy is granted in the form of grant.  
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided (whether to producers, to exporters, or others: 
through what mechanism: whether a fixed or fluctuating amount per unit: if the latter, how 
determined)  
The support is  given for:  
 
1. Support of projects from cluster associations "Clusters for innovative and international 
oriented businesses" related to:  
- development of joint services of the clusters ; 
- purchase of specific equipment  to be used by cluster members;  
- cluster collaboration with the Universities ; 
- development of branded products within th e cluster (geographical origin);  
- elaboration or realization of joint innovative projects related to the development 
of new or improved prod ucts, processes or services;  
- improvemen t of the clusters and their members through the organization of 
specialized trainings, workshops and seminars for encourag ement and exchange 
of knowledge;  
- promotional activities for the clusters.  
7. Subsidy per unit or in cases where this is not possible, the total amount or the annual 
amount budgeted for that subsidy (indicating, if possible, the average subsidy per unit in the 
previous year). Where provision of per unit subsidy information (for the year covered by the 
notification, for the previous year, or both) is not possible, a full explanation  
The annual amount budgeted for the subsidy is 5.000.000 MKD allocated for item 1.  
The Ministry of Economy compensates 75% of the project but not more than 1.000.000 MKD for 
each individually for each applicant p er application, only for one request from the listed activities.  
8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time limits attached to it, including date of 
inception/commencement  
One year - 2018 G/SCM/N/315/MKD  
 
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  9. Statistical data  
Such statistical data on trade effects of the Program for Competitiveness, Innovations and 
Entrepreneurship  in the Republic of Macedonia is not available.  
 
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