Source: https://fr.scribd.com/document/136651273/SMEs-Development-Strategy-BiH-2009-2011
Timestamp: 2020-02-28 04:13:45
Document Index: 713034435

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 49', 'art 49', 'art 4', 'Art.15', 'Art. 53', 'Art. 58', 'Art.59']

SMEs Development Strategy BiH 2009-2011 | Small And Medium Sized Enterprises | Foreign Direct Investment
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Small and Medium-Size Enterprise Development in BH
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Development Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final version, january 2009
Adoption of SME Development Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina will enable creation of better conditions for work of SMEs, utilisation of new EU funds and fulfilment of contractual obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina toward EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina signed SAA in June 2008, and for the first time has contractual relations with European Union. Article 93 of the Agreement is related to SME development. The Agreement also considers European partnership document:
• Considers identified priorites in European Partnership (introduction of the SAA, 4. consideration),
• Revision of the Agreement implementaiton will also include priorites of the Partnership that are relevant for the Agreement (article 8 of SAA),
• Assisatnce for EU will be conditioned with fulfilling Copenhagen criteria and progress of European partnership implementation (article 112 of the SAA).
Short term priorites (079 i 080) of the Agreement implementaiton were set by the Council of Ministers and they are:
• Coherent legal and institutional framework for SMEs is created,
• The BiH SME Strategy is adopted and minimum conditions on the state level are created for implementing coherent and coordinated SME policy, including establishment of the SME Agency and forum for dialog and consultation with SMEs
SME Development Strategy was created for the period 2005-2008 but has never been officially adopted. Ministry of Foreign Trade and International relations has formed Working Group that, considering changes that occured in Bosnia and Herzegovina and contractual obligations of the Country toward EU, update the Strategy and created SME Development Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2009-2011. Working Group was consisted of:
• Hamdo Tinjak, Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Radmila Mihić, RS Ministry of Finance
• Mustafa Šahinović, Directorate for EU integrations
• Jozo Bejić, Ministry of Development, Entreprenuership and Crafts of F BiH
• Velimir Didak, Ministry of Finance of F BiH
• Milan Cvijić, Ministry of Economy, Energy and Development of RS
• Adnan Drapić, Department for Economic Development of Brcko District
• Slobodan Marković, Network of Regional Development Agencies
• Ševkija Okerić, Network of Regional Development Agencies.
Support to Working Group was provided by Task Manager in Delegation of European Commision in Sarajevo Dina Karić. The Delegation also provided technical support to Working Group that was provided by experts of Atos Origin Company from Belgium: Duplouy Jean-Claude, Fedjad Zaciragic and Rasim Tulumovic.
2 The current macroeconomic situation in BiH and in the region
2.1 Private sector growth
2.2 Sector priorities
2.3 Major macroeconomic, legal and infrastructural obstacles for faster SME development
3 Overview of the current position of SMEs in BiH
3.1 Structure of SMEs and major indicators
3.2 Business Support Environment
4 European Union SME development priority issues and link with BiH conditions
4.1 BH Priorities in the period from 2009 - 2011
4.2 Vision for the period after 2011
5 SME Laws and Regulations
5.1 Brief overview of the current situation in BH
6 Institutional support to SME infrastructure and business services
6.1 Overview of the current situation in BH and proposed development
6.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
7 Education, Training and Consulting
7.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed developments
7.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timeline for period from 2009 to 2011
8 Taxation Measures and Financial Instruments
8.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed development 48
8.1.1 Taxation 48
8.1.2 Financial instruments 49
8.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines 51
9 Strengthening Technological and Innovation Capacity of SMEs
9.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed developments
9.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
10 ICT – Information and Communication Technologies
10.1. Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed development
10.2 Proposed developments in BiH in the SME context
Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
11 Single Market
11.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed developments
11.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines 65
12.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH
12.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
13.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed developments
13.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
14 Overview of recommended legal changes
15 Overview of Institutional Changes
16 Summary of Implementation Plans, with Expected Results and Timeframes
17 Monitoring and Quality of the SME Strategy Implementation
17.1 Monitoring of the strategy implementation
17.2 Monitoring of quality
17.3 Monitoring of effectiveness
SSuummmmaarryy
Small and medium enterprises may have considerable influence on the development of BH. With a right development policy, legal framework and coordinated institutional support on all levels, SMEs might win a greater share of the domestic market and, gradually, of foreign markets, be a quality partner to larger domestic and foreign companies, they could initiate sound development project and consequently create more jobs. This means that SMEs might actively participate in the poverty reduction process in BH. Therefore the implementation of BH SME Development Strategy should ensure faster SME development and growth in BH, as well as fulfillment of obligations that the state obliged to by signing European Partnership document.
The Strategy has three main parts, as explained below:
Introductory part (chapters 1 – 4) describes the motifs and goals of the Strategy and provides information about the general macroeconomic situation, on the present SME structure and about the environment for business support in BH. The introductory part is concluded by the priority SME development issues of the EU which lead to BH priorities for period from 2009 – 2011. The second part (chapters 5 – 13) contains generally known competitiveness factors of enterprise development, whose development requires initiation or intensification of certain activities of SME development support institutions on all levels. Due to a relatively brief period covered by the Strategy, the current business environment and the development level of SMEs in BH, the SME Development Strategy 2009 – 2011 primarily envisages:
• adoption of changes or amendments to the legal framework for operation of SMEs at BH level;
• institutional enhancements;
• improvements in the educational and consulting system;
• improvement of financial instruments for SMEs.
These are both preconditions or so-called basic conditions, or competitiveness factors of SME development. This is another reason why most activities in the Strategy focus on improvements in the above listed factors. For so-called advanced competitiveness factors (such as strengthening of technological and innovation capacities of SMEs, information and communication technologies, Europeization, internationalization, partnership and networking), the activities proposed over the strategy period mainly concern training and promotion. It is estimated that greater attention will be devoted to these factors after 2011, when the institutional framework is strengthened and conditions improved for proper support to SME development. In the third, the conclusion (chapters 14 – 18), an overview of recommendations and priority activities for the implementation of the Strategy is provided. Chapter 16 summarizes concrete activities for all areas covered by the Strategy. A separate chapter also provides the guidelines for monitoring of the strategy implementation, as well as for a continuous monitoring of quality and of effectiveness of implemented activities within the Strategy.
The strategy will be implemented successfully if it is adopted and implemented by all levels of SME development support. Within the framework of activities proposed in the 2009 – 2011 period, certain activities will be adapted to SME needs (on the basis of feedback from SMEs), as well as to development projects underway at a given time. On the other hand, adoption of the BH SME Development Strategy also offers a clearer picture of the needs and development orientation in the SME field to development programs/projects.
The situation in which the BH economy found itself after the end of the war in 1995, in particular the devastated industry and the large lagging behind in technological development, have resulted in gradual acceptance of the fact that in BH, over the forthcoming long-term period, small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) shall necessarily have a key role in the economic development and new job creation. The previous strategic documents, primarily the General Framework of the Economic Development Strategy (1999), and the BH Medium-Term Development Strategy (2004) had emphasized the central importance of the SME for the recovery and development of BH, but also the necessity to establish a favorable environment and create adequate conditions for their successful growth. The past activities on support to development of the SMEs have been conducted at the entity levels, with very significant financial support and technical assistance by international donor organizations, but without appropriate coordination. The need to streamline this coordination for better utilization of the existing resources, but also in order to meet the conditions required for access to additional donor funding – primarily the EU structural funds – has resulted in the initiative for preparation of a BH SME Development Strategy.
Adoption of the BH SME Development Strategy is one of the priorities of the BH Medium-Term Development Strategy (PRSP), and it will also constitute a significant step in meeting the obligations assumed by BH under the framework of implementation of the recommendations from the European Small Business Charter 1 . At the level of BH, the SME Development Strategy identifies the necessary improvements of the legal framework and institutional structures which, directly or indirectly, affect foundation, development and success of SMEs, with the main goal to establish efficient coordination in policy design and implementation of all forms of SME support. Specific measures are proposed to improve the situation from the aspect of each chapter of the European Charter and areas are identified where it will be necessary to adjust the needs of SMEs with the interests of other stakeholders in the economic development process. The strategy also proposes activities needed to enable the SMEs in BH to begin reducing the technological and competitiveness gap relative to the enterprises from the EU countries, or even those from the neighboring countries.
However, the greatest part of the task is and should remain at the entity and lower levels, which had long conducted assorted SME support activities. The proposed solutions, based primarily on the rich European experience, promote primarily the flexibility, which permits reliance on the existing documents and institutions, their incorporation into and exchange of experiences within a networked system of information and idea flow. The strategy defines functions that an SME development support system should have and identifies the most appropriate levels and structures for execution of specific functions.
1 European Small Business Charter
Fundamental shortcomings in the existing legal framework for SMEs and a lack of adequate institutional infrastructure for business support, as well as a difficult and complicated access to loan funds, constitute major obstacles to SME development in BH relative to most other countries in the region. The major issues that need to be resolved for enhancement of conditions for SME development in BH are:
• Creation of a consistent legal framework for SMEs.
• Removal of barriers hinder and retard starting and operation of businesses.
• An SME definition (in line with the EU recommendations 2 , see also Chapter 5), and strengthening of the statistics system.
• Organizational structure/institutional framework for business support (see Chapter 6);
• Horizontal and vertical instruments for business development (see Part II, Chapters 5-13).
In general, the BH SME Development Strategy aims to:
• improve the business support environment (legal and financial environment, institutional business support infrastructure);
• harmonize strategic and institutional factors in SME development with the EU recommendations;
• stimulate increase of the SME sector's share of revenue and value-added contribution;
• stimulate growth through targeted support to high-growth, innovative and export-oriented SMEs;
• enable and actively support development of small enterprise “clusters”, networks and associations for cooperation, in order to create “the critical mass”, for instance, in the areas of research and technological development, procurement, marketing and exports;
• facilitate access of SMEs to financing of budgetary and commercial character;
• provide incentives to new businesses across all sectors of the economy:
• actively promote and facilitate promotion of an entrepreneurial culture in BH;
• improve competitiveness of SMEs on domestic and foreign markets;
• assist in development of the new educational system at the secondary, associate-degree and university studies, with youth entrepreneurship would be prioritized, and which would educate new managers;
• reduce the grey economy; and
• identify priority projects and activities for the 2011-2013 period.
2 Official Journal of the European Union, L 124/36, 20.5.2003: Commission Recommendation concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Implementation of the goals set forth in the period of 2009-2011 should result in:
• Increase of the SME share in the GDP;
• Increase in the number of active SMEs;
• Increased number of jobs created by SMEs;
• Increased SME competitiveness;
• Faster creation of SMEs in the high—technology field;
• Mass retraining of labor force that is unskilled or whose skills are obsolete or ill-adjusted to the needs of the modern economy,
• Broader application of the ICT in the work of SMEs.
In the preparation of the Strategy, the following basic documents were used:
• European Charter for Small Enterprises and best implementation practices from EU countries;
• The Multi-Annual Program for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises 2001-2005 3 , with the currently known guidelines of the new Multi-Annual Program for the 2006-2011 period, which is in preparation; and
• BH Medium-Term Development Strategy – PRSP (2004-2007).
In addition to the above documents, the importance of the EU recommendations 4 related to the SMEs definition has been recognized (see Chapter 5 for details).
The Strategy also describes the so-called advanced competitiveness factors along with specific instruments to promote exports, assist in development of innovative companies or promote networking and partnering as an important strategic instrument in the business world today. The Strategy concludes with the tables summing up recommended legislative and institutional changes and with a proposal of monitoring mechanisms for implementation.
3 The Multi-annual Program for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises 2001-2005. http://europe.eu.int/comm/enterprise/enterprise policy/mult entr programme/programme 2001 2005.htm
4 Official Journal of the European Union, L 124/36, 20.5.2003: Commission Recommendation concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
22 TThhee ccuurrrreenntt mmaaccrrooeeccoonnoommiicc ssiittuuaattiioonn iinn BBiillll aanndd iinn tthhee rreeggiioonn
This chapter provides an overview of the macroeconomic level of development of BiH and also describes major obstacles for development of the economy. The used data sources are:
• Report on BH Integration with EU
• BH Central Bank
• Official Statistics in BH
• World Bank reports
• Directorate for Economic Planning of Council of Ministers
The EC’s November 2007 Report on BiH’s progress 5 noted that macro economic stability has improved but there is no consensus among BiH and the entities on the fundamentals of economic policies. Unemployment in the country is still very high and job creation is slowed due to (among other factors) high taxation of labour, distorted wage-setting mechanisms and low labour mobility. The Report also underlines that SME sector is growing, but the growth is slowed down due to difficult business environment. Structure for SME support in the Country is ‘uncoordinated in terms of country wide strategy’.
BiH has still not reached its pre-war GDP level (it is estimated that this may happen in 2011). Its GDP per capita of around 2.778,9 EUR (in 2007 – see Table 2-1) is one of the lowest in the region. Between 1996 and 1999, real GDP growth, fuelled by high levels of foreign reconstruction aid, averaged above 30 per cent. Since then, however, with inadequate domestic sources of growth, in particular private sector activity, GDP growth slowed. In 2005, according to Central Bank data, GDP growth was 3,9%, in 2006 it was 6,7%, and in 2007 6%. The official GDP data are considered underestimated because the grey economy is not taken into account 6 .
Estimates of unemployment levels is 44.74% (in 2007). The growth of average monthly net salary is evident: in 2005, it was 275 EUR, in 2006, 299,6 EUR, and in 2007, it was 322 EUR. The average monthly net salary was 332.85 EUR (in august 2008). The high unemployment rate is still a most important cause of poverty, and its reduction is one of the priority issues in BiH.
One of the most positive macroeconomic results in BH in recent years was the price stability and relatively low inflation rate. Foreign direct investments in 2006 increased greatly (to 917.6 million KM) relative to previous years and, together with SME growth, it represents the brightest hope for the BiH economy.
5 The European Commission’s Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 Progress Report
6 World Bank report
The general economic indicators are presented in the table 2-1.
Table 2-1: General Economic Indicators
GDP billion Euros
GDP per capita, Euros
Real GDP growth rate %
Retail prices growth (%),
Current account balance, million Euro
- 1318.6
- 1604.9
- 970.9
External Debt of Government Sector, million Euro
2081.4 1996
2787.5 3425
Source: BiH Statistics Agency Bulletin, IMF Country Report 2004, FIPA: http://www.fipa.gov.ba, Statistics Agency, Federal Statistics Institute, Institute for Statistics RS
Central Bank of BiH, BiH
2.1 Private sector growth 7
The main levers of private sector growth in all countries are enhancement of the business environment for domestic and foreign investment and support to entrepreneurship. Relative to previous years, notable improvements in removal of administrative barriers for domestic and foreign investment occurred. The focus in improving the business climate will shift from removing administrative barriers to creation of conditions for improved competitiveness of the domestic economy, reduction of tax rates and strengthening of corporate management. The removal of administrative barriers and improving the business climate are key strategic instruments in all countries.
Attracting more foreign investment is a crucial priority of the BiH Medium-Term Development Strategy (also known as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - PRSP), given the shortage of domestic capital and numerous positive effects of FDI, including increased employment, new management skills, new technologies, new markets and increased exports. The data on foreign investments into BiH are included into the Chapter 12 – Internationalization of SMEs.
Strengthening entrepreneurship in BiH has already been recognized as a precondition for rapid private sector development, and particularly for growth of SMEs. Relative to other transition countries, BiH has the lowest number of enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants, setting up companies is the most expensive in the region, more expensive than in any EU country (see Figures in Chapter 3), which is a strong sign to the BiH Council of Ministers to accelerate needed reforms to create a more SME-friendly
7 Based on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) – BiH Medium-term Development Strategy 2004-2007 – The revised document in May 2006
Of the sector priorities set out within the BIH Medium-Term Development Strategy (2004-2007) most important are private sector (privatization and finance), the labor market (employment, business and the single economic space), public sector (administration and statistics), social sector (social protection, education etc), economic sector (industry and tourism), communications (transport and ICT), use and protection of natural resources (water, environment, energy, agriculture, forestry). The MTDS was updated in 2006 in a consultative process led by the Economic Policy and Planning Unit.
There are 6 General Development Priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina recognised in the updated Strategy from May 2006 8 and a number of sector priorities that are directly related to SME development:
1. Maintain macroeconomic stability.
2. Increase private investments.
- Strengthening the approach, institutions and legal framework for development of entrepreneurship and
SME. - Supporting the development of specialized consulting institutions capable of assisting SME in acquiring new skills and technologies, particularly in the field of international standards and certificates.
Increase employment and strengthen connections between human resources and the labour market.
Improve the system of social protection.
entrepreneurship growth.
6. Increase the transparency and capabilities of BIH society.
More efforts have to be invested into SME institutional framework including legal framework. Business environment for SMEs has to be improved and internal strengthening of SME-s supported (enabling introduction of new skills and technologies).
The preservation of macroeconomic stability and stability of the financial markets, the need for faster development of capital markets, as well as for reform of the fiscal system, labor market, further liberalization of the foreign trade in the region, and other issues which still require improvements in BiH, deter many foreign investors. The absence of a functioning single economic space in BiH is a particular obstacle to the creation of an attractive business climate for domestic and foreign investors
8 http://www.dep.gov.ba/dwnld/Revised_MTDS+AP_English.pdf
and for a closer integration with the EU. Increasing FDI and creation of an open SME-friendly capital market (the risk capital is particularly important for innovative SMEs) will be crucial for the country’s long-term prosperity.
Legal and administrative obstacles are explained in detail in the second part of the Strategy (particularly Chapter 5, and Chapters 6 – 13). We can mention:
• expensive and lengthy bureaucratic procedures for business registration
• inadequate tax and financial support to enterprises with the potential for rapid growth.
SME Development Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009 - 2011
OOvveerrvviieeww ooff tthhee ccuurrrreenntt ppoossiittiioonn ooff SSMMEEss iinn BBiiHH
The lag in development of small and medium-sized enterprises in BiH may be attributed to historical causes. It was predicated on a very gradual recognition of the role and significance of the small business in the economy of the country. The main reason for this is the fact that throughout the pre-war period the country's economy had been based on large enterprises and complex integrated business systems. The socialist economic model did not recognize private ownership, business and free enterprise, and consequently, this sector had not only remained unsupported, but it had actually been constrained by systemic measures. After the war, however, economists and policy makers long debated the whether the focus should remain on the pre-war economic system and, in this context, priority should be placed on large state-owned enterprises or the role and significance of small and medium enterprises should be recognized and their development supported in line with the models implemented in the developed countries. In this sense, BiH does not represent a typical example of SME development for a country in the process of post-socialist economic transition. The absence of clear orientation lasted for long, while small and medium enterprises, as a factor of the country's development, have been quickly gaining significance, owing to the positive influence of the international community, influence of the experiences from the neighbouring countries, and influence from a small number of experts and politicians. Today, it may be said that there is a consensus of both economists and politicians that support to small and medium enterprises in all aspects of development is a desired direction for future economic development of BiH. Another evident fact that has negatively affected SME development is the slowness of the privatization process and of the transition of BiH to market economy. Since the transition stresses entrepreneurship and self-employment in accordance with the rules of market economy, it becomes manifest that the results of transition will have a direct positive effect on SME development. The third important factor is linked to the inconsistency of economic policy and legislative measures at the BiH level, because the strategic approaches, legal frameworks and other instruments of SME development have so far been established exclusively at the entity levels, without adequate coordination and agreement at the state level. RS adopted “Small and Medium Enterprise Development Strategy” in RS for period 2006 to 2010, and Federation of BH adopted “Small Economy Development Programme” in 2007. Inconsistency of the institutional framework is the fourth key factor that exacerbates the situation for SME development in BiH. All tasks concerning SME development which must be completed at the state level are passed to the Department for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. The Department had been established relatively recently (in 2003) and still lacks adequate human and technical resources (5 employees).
There are many weaknesses in BiH and most are related to the legal environment and the institutional framework. Among other issues obstructing SME development is non-existence of adequate SME statistics.
Major external barriers include the following:
• The existing legal framework is not favourable for SMEs, and a consistent legislative framework for SMEs at the BiH level does not exist.
• No definition of SMEs is at present formally recognised within any legal framework on BiH and Brčko District level (and two different definitions are recognised on entity levels) .
• Information technology is not broadly implemented in administrative processes.
• SME feedback mechanisms are not defined (in relation to the SME development support institutions: SMEs as beneficiaries).
• Government institutions at the BiH level lack both a clearly determined or defined role in the entrepreneurship and SME development sector, and a role in determining the manner of distribution of SME support tasks between the national and entity or regional levels.
• Monetary, credit and fiscal policies are still undeveloped and strategies for adaptation to the needs and affirmation of business subjects are only being developed.
• At the level of BiH, there is no institutional framework for support to SMEs, and even at the level of entities or districts the institutional framework is being built. The existing institutions have not still met the needs and expectations of SMEs. As a result, there are no well developed programs or measures for concrete support to SME development.
Currently available information on the situation in BiH are excerpted from SWOT analysis entity strategies and programs 9 , various regional 10 and other strategies 11 . The following external barriers to or weaknesses in the SME development should also be mentioned:
• high level of bureaucracy in BH
• poor support to manufacturing SMEs
• Dominance of micro enterprises,
• Uneven institutional support and territorial development of SMEs
• Low public investments in Research and Development (R&D)
• Lack of entrepreneurial culture and business ethics
• Dominance of import lobby
• Lack of SME-s involvement in drafting legislation
9 RS SME Development Strategy for the period 2006-2010 and Program for SME Development in FBiH
10 EURED EU Project
11 BH Medium-term Development Strategy
• Lack of investment in entrepreneurial infrastructure
• Scarcity developed industry sectors which SMEs could link with:
lack of vocational education and an underdeveloped system of adult education,
insufficient investment into prospective sectors based on expertise,
o weak application of contemporary methods for relating SME-s development and cooperation with big enterprises.
On the SME side , there are also the so-called internal barriers:
• low level of knowledge and skills in the field of new technologies, ICT, management, etc.
• outdated technology in the majority of the existing SMEs,
• strong orientation of small and medium-sized enterprises onto traditional manufacturing industries based on very low productivity and low level of technology,
• overly narrow orientation of SMEs to local markets.
• low competitiveness of SMEs for export .
The SMEs structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina (table 3-1) is estimated on the basis of available data. There are no precise data, because there is no SME definition on the state level, and different institutions (statistics and tax institutions, Pension fund, etc.) present SMEs data in different ways. The total number of enterprises obtained is based on the data from RS SME Development Strategy, FBH Program for Economy Development and Brcko District Economy Report for 2007.
According to the EU SME Definition, most companies in BiH are SMEs. The EU definition structures SMEs according to the number of employees and annual turnover (balance sheet data) and according to the definition (Recommendation 2003/361/EC, Annex, article 1-Enterprise) “Enterprise is every subject involved in economic activity, regardless of its legal form. This especially includes self-employed individuals and family businesses involved in craft or other activities, partnerships and associations regularly involved in economic activities.”
Table 3-1: Structure of SMEs in BiH:
Total number of legal entities
The data shows that the largest number of enterprises in BiH are the so-called micro-enterprises (with number of employees up to 10), which account for 93.6 % of all SMEs. This is also the most vulnerable group, which needs support in all areas and at all levels.
The size of the grey economy is a separate issue. There are various estimations about the grey economic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the conclusion is that it could be anywhere from 20-50%. According to the estimates done by the EC and the World Bank, the grey economy encompasses some 36% of the total economy in the country. Given the size of population and cities, there are more cafes and small grocery stores than in most other places in the world. These industries are facing strong competition and low profit margins, so that they are barely surviving, sometimes for several months only. From the sector perspective 12 , the trade sector (either wholesale or retail) dominates. In addition to trade, processing industries (particularly in the food and wood sectors) and mining industry are considered strong. It is assumed that majority of SMEs is in trade sector.
This problem can be more efficiently resolved only once the state develops a strategy of providing incentives for intensive use of comparative advantages of the resources available in BiH, such as energy, agriculture, forests and tourist potentials, etc. Such a strategy would also encourage an increase in the number of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. There is a very large difference in BiH between the registered and active SMEs. The available numbers are unreliable, due to the aforementioned problems with statistics, but it has been recognized that the expansion of the number of enterprises in some periods was unsuccessful, as many of them never became sustainable, while others later failed.
Some analyses have shown that the major causes of failure of small and medium enterprises in BiH poor business climate and legal frameworks, absence of real support by the state, lack of capital at realistic cost, and illegal competition. However, some causes for failures of start-ups also lie in the lack of competence by their founders or managers, who had not adequately been prepared for managing their own businesses. Entrepreneurship education, both at the level of regular education, as well as at the level of additional training, seminars, and similar forms of education, has developed much more slowly than the practical needs.
12 Adopted – based on the Socio-Economic Studies of Regional Development Strategies of EURED
Table 3-2 shows the most significant indicator of development of the SME environment relative to the other countries in the region but it also underlines a problem of statistics as well as lack of capacity within the country to report on SME structure.
Table 3-2: Number of SMEs in Southeast Europe
UNMIK/Ko
SMEs per 1000 inhabitants
Source: Report on the Implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the Western Balkans, 2007.
The data presented for Bosnia and Herzegovina are from 2004 and are not even close to any of the existing reports or statistical sources that were identified during the work on the Strategy. However, these sources differ between themselves. There are no data shown for active companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, total number of SMEs (there is data for total number of legal entities in 2004), number of SMEs per 1000 inhabitants. The World Bank Doing Business Report shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina lags behind the region over numerous indicators. The country is ranked at 105 th place over 178 countries. Out of 10 observed reform areas, Bosnia and Herzegovina make a positive change only in Trading Across Border. Graph 3-1: Facility in doing business – global positioning
Makedonija, FMRJ
Source: World Bank Report, 2008-07-10
The duration for starting business and number of procedures remained the same in the last 3 years, although, the country significantly lags over these indicators in comparison to the countries in the region.
Table 3-3: Starting a business: Procedures and duration comparison
Source: World Bank report, 2008.
The infrastructure for entrepreneurship development is intensively developing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are various business support agencies, business associations, clusters and 10 incubators 13 , but a lack of coordination is evident. SME Development Agency is formed in RS and together with 4 regional and 20 local Agencies, it forms fundamental network for SME development support in RS. RS SME Development Strategy anticipates number of activities for further strengthening business environment support:
• Strengthening and financial support to SMEs and entrepreneurship development,
• Speed-up the procedures and decreasing the costs of business registration,
• Decreasing financial burden and taxes for SMEs,
• Strengthening institutional support to SME development
• Creating and developing entrepreneurial infrastructure,
• Partnership and clustering of SMEs,
• Education of entrepreneurs (in secondary schools, university, informal education and skills acquiring),
• Strengthening of innovative and technological competitiveness of SMEs,
• Strengthening of ICT role in SMEs, development,
• SMEs internationalisation, foreign investments and emigrants,
• Integration of gender principle in SME development, with emphasis on strengthening female entrepreneurship.
13 BH Incubators are organised into a network and they adopted Mutual Work Strategy
There is no similar structure in FBH and Entrepreneurial Infrastructure Development Programme in FBH until 2010 anticipates/includes:
• Making of FBH SME Development Strategy,
• Program of building entrepreneurial zones,
• Handicrafts development program (old and traditional crafts),
• Establishing Small Economy Development Agency,
• Establishing development bank (Fund) for small and medium entrepreneurship,
• Ensuring incentive funding for SME development (up to 2% of FBH budget, in accordance with Law on incentives for small economy),
• Building information system for small economy in FBH,
• Examine the possibility of establishing Guarantee Fund (fund for small economy needs),
• Cooperation with other development holders (EU charter recommendation).
Brcko District BH has no agency or any similar institution dealing with support to SMEs development. Government’s department for town planning, property rights relations and economy is in charge of the projects/programs of entrepreneurship development.
Through EURED project, EU supported establishment of five Regional development agencies in BH, established by municipalities, cantons, development institutions/agencies and individuals. Agencies formed a network for coordination of interacting work. The aim of establishing is to balance regional development that is to strategically strengthen areas covered with their work, and especially:
• SMEs development,
• Organising and providing training,
• Territorial marketing and area promotion,
• Development of SME support instruments (business zones, incubators, technological parks etc.),
• Tourism development,
• Attracting FDI,
• Participation in programs and projects financed by EU.
Certain cantons (Zenica-Doboj, Posavina) have organised agencies or similar institutions to improve SME development support.
On municipality and local community level there is also a large number of agencies, entrepreneur’s associations, centres and similar institutions which support SME development.
No unified standards for offering of business services to SMEs have been defined yet. The activities of these organizations are not supported by a single serious ICT platform, and therefore it is very difficult to monitor SME development and judge the relevance or efficiency of business support services. Owing to the lack of coordination in the business support environment, financial support for either business support service providers or for SMEs themselves is very weak. Although the banking system has been rather successfully reformed and strengthened, and micro credit institutions and credit guarantee funds are also active in BiH, owing to unfavourable and insecure environment, SMEs are still having difficulties accessing lending funds and credit guarantees. Many activities on introduction and improvement of business services were initiated by international donors. However, from the results it is evident that business services in BiH, at this level of development, can not be sustainable. The reasons are, among other things, in the low level of knowledge and skills, low levels of business and entrepreneurship culture, and lack of funding. For all these reasons, SMEs are not showing serious willingness to pay for any business services. Consequently, the conditions for the newly founded private business services sector are inadequate. Such an environment makes it difficult even for the existing business services to grow and develop. Because of insufficient knowledge, SMEs usually can not benefit from information only, or from brief initial consulting services. Frequently, they even do not know what they need nor can they, because of numerous drawbacks in the country, use information they obtain. This means, that in order to succeed, SMEs need a more comprehensive approach combining information services, training, consulting and/or mentoring services. In addition, this initial support (e.g. for up to three years of a company's existence) needs to be co-funded. The institutional framework required for support of the SMEs and a listing of institutions at various levels is described in more detail primarily in chapter 6, as well in the chapters of the entire Part II of the strategy (chapters 5-13).
EEuurrooppeeaann UUnniioonn SSMMEE ddeevveellooppmmeenntt pprriioorriittyy iissssuueess aanndd lliinnkk wwiitthh BBiillll ccoonnddiittiioonnss
For the following period, the priorities are:
• Improvement in implementation of European Charter for SMEs ,
• Fulfilling priorities for European partnership for BH,
• Implementation of Strategy for BH Integration in EU
• Removal of any other administrative barriers for SMEs business,
• SMEs business environment enhancement
SMEs are considered to be the backbone of every economy, which certainly applies to Bosnia and Herzegovina. SME competitiveness has been the subject of a number of European Commission 14 , OECD 15 and other strategic documents. While each has a slightly different focus, they all agree that an important element in improving competitiveness is building domestic economic, technological, managerial and other business capabilities.
Many factors influence the development of SME capabilities. First, the following pre-conditions have to be in place:
• in addition to macroeconomic and political stability, well-functioning market and institutions providing business development services for SMEs are also needed;
• legal framework supportive of start-up creation and SME development, and it is also necessary to resolve the problem of closing enterprises;
• SMEs' access to finance has been identified in many surveys of business people as the most important factor determining survival and growth of SMEs in both developing and developed countries, and
• access to knowledge,
• liberalisation and abolition of vizas in order to enable BH entrepreneurs to have equal presentation in the market.
More advanced SME competitiveness elements are related to the SMEs' access to new technologies (including ICT) and their ability to endure on the global market, which might require specific support instruments for their performance to improve. For example, export competitiveness of SME sector can be increased to a large extent by establishment of clusters or by other inter- company linkages (e.g. linkages between large and small enterprises, or formal and informal cooperation among local SMEs).
14 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/index_en.htm
15 www.oecd.org, www.investmentcompact.org
From the European Commission's entrepreneurship strategies, it is evident that many instruments and tools are introduced to improve each of the above mentioned SME competitiveness factors. The European Commission has developed a number of initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and SME Development, such as the European Charter for Small Enterprises and Action Plan for Entrepreneurship 16 . The implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises is an essential part of the Lisbon Strategy. Other important activities are related to benchmarking and exchange of good practices. The special needs and concerns of SMEs are incorporated into most EU policies and programmes. This is shaping Europe’s agenda for entrepreneurship for the years to come and might serve as the basis of the BiH SME Development Strategy.
The priorities for the upcoming period are mostly linked to improvements in implementing European Charter for SMEs, fulfilling priorities of European Partnership for BH, and implementing Strategy for BH Integration in EU, which underlines the following as the necessary measures 17 :
• To adopt regulations which make possible to track SME sector statistically on the state level.
• To adopt and implement regulations for collaterals, leasing, bankruptcy and debt enforcement.
• To adopt SME Strategy and one SME definition on BH level,
• To develop plan of activities for realisation of SME development policies, in line with priorities of BH Mid-term Development Strategy (PRSP) and European Charter priorities for small enterprises,
• To establish Council for Development and Entrepreneurship and make it operative,
• To institutionalize communication between government, entrepreneurs and unions.
European partnership for BH, which was approved by present Council of Ministers, demands the following:
• Coherent legal and institutional framework for SME to be made,
• BH SME Strategy to be adopted and to provide minimal conditions for implementation of coherent and coordinated SME policy on the state level, including establishment of SME Agency and forum for communication and consultations with SMEs.
16 European Commission – DG Enterprise: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/ index.htm
17 Page of Strategy
In the last Report on the Implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the Western Balkans (published in 2007 18 ) was indicated that BH needs to concentrate on establishing overall policy at the state level, in order to approve the draft SME Strategy, establish a legal framework and other proposed initiatives.
The room for improvement is recognised on enhancement of business environment through:
• improvement and harmonization of laws and regulations on SMEs in general and
• The establishment of cheaper and faster conditions for start-ups, due to high costs of company registration and lack of possibilities for on line registration.
Bosnia and Herzegovina needs better legislation and regulations and lack of Regulatory Impact Analysis and national SME strategy and agency are recognised as an issue. An SME Agency is established in almost every Western Balkan Countries except Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Report underlines that ‘An Agreement on the Bosnia and Herzegovina SME Strategy between governments at all levels must be reached before there can be further progress’. A system for regular exchange of information is needed and creation of synergies among locally managed programmes at state level.
Unfriendly taxation policy and financial matters are disharmonised between the two entities. There is also a need for improvement in terms of banking policy – high interest rates and unfavourable collateral requirements.
Further development of institutional framework is also needed. Further action is urgent in legal framework related to access to finance and innovation. The views of SMEs must be taken into account in law- and policy-making. Therefore, representation of small business interests in the law- and policy-making process has to be ensured through transparent dissemination of information, for instance through the Internet. Better collaboration of all stakeholders involved in SME development has to be ensured as well, to which a key contribution will be completion of the institutional framework for the SME development, first of all establishment of the Council for Development and Entrepreneurship. Acceptance of a single SME classification (harmonized with the EU approach) will enable better tracking of SMEs and of the situation in the country and beyond. All of the Western Balkan countries, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, apply an EC definition of SMEs.
18 The report was created by EC Directorate for entrepreneurship and industry and OECD Investment Compact for Southeast Europe with consultation with European bank for reconstruction and development and European Training Foundation. Next report will be published in early 2008.
SMEs will also benefit from the application of ICT in their daily work. The BiH Council of Ministers and governments in BiH could stimulate these activities by deciding to provide all information electronically and by securing the means for full exploitation of this technology in transactions between SMEs and the government, in business to business transactions, as well as in fulfilling legal requirements. Improving on line access is also recognised as one of the areas where improvement is needed, especially related to undeveloped areas of the on-line access and strengthening e-signature policy ICT capacities.
There are three dimensions of progress recognised in the Report:
• Entrepreneurship education and training (in terms of secondary education and improving the availability of skills),
• Successful e-business models and top-class small business support (more specifically business incubators and range of business services),
• Stronger and more effective representation (creating SME networks and public/private consultation).
Bosnia and Herzegovina has also made a progress on the state wide harmonization of the registration system, while significant differences still exist in micro business registration system (on municipality level).
During the period covered by this Strategy, the business support environment should be organised and capabilities of the staff of relevant institutions improved to permit provision of initial advice on advanced competitive factors for business development related to the Europeanization and internationalisation, as well as for promotion of partnering and networking among different formal and informal business and/or public groups. Special attention should be given to the most vulnerable target groups, e.g. crafts and micro enterprises (including self-employed), women entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs, in order to stimulate business and entrepreneurship among these categories. Development of traditional trades also requires special consideration. And last but not least, the European best practices and benchmarking approach should be introduced in BiH. Institutions involved in SME development will benefit from effective exchange of good practices. This should be one of the tools of every institution.
The chapters 5 to 13 (Part II) describe in greater detail individual segments which affect SME competitiveness and ways these elements can be improved to support faster SME development in BiH.
Vision for the period after 2011
Since the implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises is an essential part of the Lisbon Strategy and a constant agenda in EU, it can be expected that this process will continue beyond 2011. Based on the development of BiH at that time (infrastructure will have been developed and institutional staff will have been trained and more experienced in providing support for the SMEs sector) it is expected that more efforts will be put into introduction of instruments for improvement of advanced SME competitiveness factors and related advanced business development services. Own best practices will be developed as well, which will contribute to self-learning and self-improvement, and consequently to the gradual sustainability of the overall business support framework. Pro-active participation of all actors in business support during the first development period (2009-2011), will also enable BiH to adapt more easily to any potential new EU requirements.
SSMMEE LLaawwss aanndd RReegguullaattiioonnss
Stable legislation and regulations are important parts of preconditions for SME development. In particular, rationalization of government regulatory measures and elimination of bureaucracy, establishment of one-stop-shops, introduction of e-government and establishment of a central company register, are most important for creation of start-up enterprises, survival and development of SMEs. Regulations on all levels should be simple and practical, clear in their goals and cost- effective in the implementation. Existing regulations should be reviewed and changes made where necessary. But, first of all, the regulations need to be adopted at the right level of government. On the state level, many laws are missing that would provide companies with same business conditions regardless of the place of registration. In development of legislation for SMEs, the “think small first” rule should be the basic guiding principle. If the measures, legislation, regulations and practice are suited to small firms, they will be acceptable to large companies as well.
Main goals in the period of 2009-2011:
Creating new and simplification and enhancement of existing laws in BH, in order to ensure:
• establishment of more efficient institutional framework for SME development,
- the SME definition is integrated into all relevant laws and regulations (and
• cheaper and faster start-ups
Promotion/Development
• establishment of single economic space in BH
Entrepreneurship, the Law on Statistics, entity laws regarding SMEs)
• recognition of EU SME definition
• improvement of statistic and research monitoring of SME development.
- adopted all implementation plan
SMEs require an environment with certain characteristics to operate successfully. An essential part of a favorable environment is a legal framework combined with fully operational institutions for enforcement of laws. The situation in relation to legislation and regulation in BH is complicated due to overlapping competencies between municipalities, cantons, entities and the state. In the post-war development and with establishment of two Entities, Republika Srpska (RS) and the Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina FBH, and the Brèko District, most legislation affecting business environment and SME development were adopted separately, without adequate coordination and harmonization between these different constitutive entities. At present, there are two SME definitions in BH: one in RS, and the other one in FBH. Neither of them is fully in line with EU definition.
Tabel 5-1: EU definition and definition in Bosnia and Herzegovina
BDP per c
- The SME category 19 is made up of :
- medium-sized enterprises with less than 250 employees, with annual sales not
exceeding 50 million €, and with total annual balance sheet not exceeding 43 million €.
- a small enterprise is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employees and with total annual sales and/or total annual balance sheet not exceeding 10 million €.
- a micro-enterprise is defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and with annual sales and/or total annual balance sheet not exceeding 2 million €.
The category of medium-sized enterprises is made up of the legal entities which :
- Employ from 51-250 persons annually, - with annual income not exceeding 20 million KM or with total annual balance sheet less than 10 million KM. A small enterprise is defined as a legal entity which :
employs form 11 to 50 persons annually,
BiH (2778,9)
with total annual income not exceeding 4 million KM or have total annual balance sheet less than 2 million KM. Under the categoryof small enerprises, RS also recognizes a micro-enterprise as an enterprise with less than 10 employees annually.
The category of medium-sized enterprises is made up of the legal entities :
- which employ up to 250 persons,
- with annual sales not exceeding 40 million KM, and/or with total annual balance sheet not exceeding 30 million KM.
A small enterprise is defined as a legal entity :
- which employ up to 50 persons
- with total annual sales and/or total annual balance sheet not exceeding 4 million KM.
micro-enterprise is defined as a legal entity :
which employs up to 10 persons and with annual sales and/or total annual balance sheet
not exceeding 400,000 KM.
19 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/sme_user_guide.pdf
With the aim of adopting final SME criteria in BH which will be based mainly on sales/balance sheets, the following should be taken into consideration:
1) EC recommendation 2003/361/EC, which defines SME criteria, and in the article 2 explains SME criteria for EU:
“Levels are taken as maximum values. MS, EIF, EIB can determine lower levels in implementing some of their policies, and they can also choose to apply only employees criteria, except in the areas controlled by different regulations of state aid.” SME definition determined by EU will have to be fully respected in the areas concerning state aid for SMEs. Considering future support and work of EU Structural funds, EU SME definition will be very useful in determining level of support to SMEs, grants and state aid for SMEs ( EC regulation: 2006/C 54/08 – art 49).
Regional aid instruction: 2006/C 54/08 – art 49 (different regional aid intensity for medium and small/micro enterprises) and article 87.3(a) recommend to follow EU criteria for SME classification.
Comparison of GDP BH per capita with some of the lowest GDPs per capita in 27 Member States, for example Romania (GSP per capita: 10.300 EUR in 2007, which represents 42 per cent of average GDP per capita of EU 27)-which leads to conclusion that GDP does not affect the use of EU SME definition in Member States.
It is necessary to emphasize that in SME classification (in categories of micro, small or medium enterprise), it is obligatory to respect the criterion of number of employees, and SME can choose to fulfill one of the other two criteria concerning annual sales or annual balance sheet. The criteria concerning the number of employees are the most important and it has to be regarded as the main criterion. 20
In BH, EU SME definition should be accepted and fully applied, and existing laws should be changed accordingly.
The implementation of the new laws into the daily administrative procedure is the most difficult task and it is also the matter of best practice which is developed over time. Monitoring and best practices approach should be introduced at each registration point and in each business support institution at all levels. This means that the monitoring of legislation’s implementation and SMEs’ appropriateness of legislation and administrative procedures would be monitored by the administrative staff and with the help of SMEs feedback. The monitoring system should ensure, among other things, feedback from SMEs and their collection in central newly established Agency for Development and Entrepreneurship at the national level. Best practices exchange among administrative staff of registration points would also be useful in order to improve their daily procedures.
20 Commission Recommendation, 6 May 2003 (2003/361/EC), part 4
Here we wish to highlight most important laws and regulations that need to be adopted over the period covered by the Strategy:
− the Law on Promotion of SMEs and Entrepreneurship should include, among other things, the SME definition, and the resolution of the issue of inclusion of the artisans and trades in this law or adoption of a separate law on trades at the level of BH. This law should define the institutional setup necessary for SME development, including state, entity, regional and local institutional setup for SME support. − the Framework Law on Registration of Businesses which was recently adopted can be further improved in the segments addressing one-stop shops, the single company’s number and with additional shortening of registration procedures,
5.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
Indicators and comments
Review of the existing law and
potential amendments passed to the Council of Ministers or relevant legislative body
Law on Accounting and Auditing (review harmonization with international standards)
Review of the existing law and potential amendments passed to the Council of Ministers or relevant legislative body
DB level, external experts
Draft law passed to the Council of Ministers
Law on Companies of entities and Brcko District
Harmonization of Regional Development concept in BH
DB level, external
experts, EU
Harmonized concept and
necessary acts for implementation
66 IInnssttiittuuttiioonnaall ssuuppppoorrtt ttoo SSMMEE iinnffrraassttrruuccttuurree aanndd bbuussiinneessss sseerrvviicceess
The chapter describes the responsible institutions on all levels that play important roles in SME development and their existing links, and proposes improvements in the form of establishment of new organizations, organizational improvements, introduction of new business services and/or improvements of existing ones. This chapter shall describe various levels of institutional support to businesses, as well as the difference between public and commercial (business) support service providers.
Main goals in the 2009 – 2011 period:
- Ensure coordination of policies and initiatives for development and entrepreneurship on the level of BH
- Entrepreneurship formed
- Establish the basic institutional framework
- Sector for small and medium enterpireses formed within Ministry of foreign trade and economic relations of B&H and other apropriate financial funds for development and enetrpreneurship
- Ensure transparency and compatibility of services for support to development and entrepreneurship in BH
- Development and Entrepreneurship Network established
Many international donors have initiated projects of establishment of various agencies, centers and entrepreneurship development support institutions without a common plan. Such an approach has resulted in a very complex and non-transparent institutional framework and causes difficulties both to business providers themselves and certainly to SMEs. Nevertheless, there are also some positive results, notably a considerable number of strategies prepared in different spheres of activities and on different levels. At the same time, a lot of efforts have been invested into improvement of staff skills and of their capabilities in general. Nevertheless, the results would have been much better if a harmonized approach had been adopted and a suitable platform for exchange of best practices and sharing of information and knowledge across the country developed. This approach is the leading principle taken into consideration in the Strategy preparation.
Institutional support to development in BH must be based on the needs of the SMEs. In each phase of
their development, we must offer them relevant support or services at different levels. Owing to the specificity of specific phases of SME development and development of their products, each individual phase also requires development of specialized private sector providers who can offer professional
consultancy services. It is recommended that a strong co-ordination function has to be established on the BH government level. To involve all players into the strategic decisions, establishment of the Development and Entrepreneurship Council/Forum is recommended, consisting of all important stakeholders. The Council may be structured of different groups of members, e.g.:
• permanent members (those directly linked to SME development),
• non-permanent members (depending on the individual issue to be discussed) and
• observers (representatives of foreign donors, European Commission etc.).
Considering the main goal and purpose of Council, Council should have equal number of members
representing government sectors and entrepreneurs. The proposed number of permanent Council members is 10, and it would be made of:
• BH Government representatives (4 members),
• Entrepreneurs’ representatives-associations, development agencies (4 members),
• Science sector (2 members).
The Development and Entrepreneurship Council’s main aim is to integrate the enterprise and competitiveness dimensions in other policies, such as competition, environment, regional, research and trade policies.
Figure 6.1: Institutional inter-relationships among stakeholders in development and entrepreneurship sector
MOFTER - Chair of the Development and Entrepreneurship Council
Strategic Level SME Development and Entrepreneurship Council as the coordinator of strategic decisions on legislation changes, strategies, multi-annual programs etc
SME sector within MOFTER (to be established) in the role of national coordinator on the operational level and as integrator of business support
Existing and new funds for SME development in B&H
Other – commercial providers of services in the SME Development field e.g. private consultancy companies
Business Development Network includes all public business support agencies, centers and offices active in the business support services (including, entity SME development agencies, regional development agencies, Innovation Agency, FIPA,
commerce and foreign-trade chambers,universities,incubators,technologicalparksetc.)
This recommended solution also leads to achievement of one of the recommendations from the
European Union Charter: “Allow for stronger, more effective representation of SME interests”, which means create the conditions that enterprises, most probably through strengthened business associations, can be directly and regularly involved in policy development. The suggested solution is also in line with the necessary measure stated in Strategy of BH Integration in EU: To establish SME Development and Entrepreneurship Council and make it operative.
The creation of the BH Development and Entrepreneurship Council enables SMEs to have a certain influence on all levels of governmental activities. It is also recommended that the Development and Entrepreneurship Council considers all legal and regulatory changes in the country (regardless of the level). This would help integrate the principle of “think small (enterprises) first” into all legislation and regulations in the country and facilitate harmonization of different-level laws and regulations.
There are some additional arguments for creating the suggested structure:
• As a part of the future aims of EU structural funds, and to make possible for SME sector to use this funds, the suggested structure and EU criteria are necessary for managing/monitoring/controlling EU structural funds, and according to rule EC 1083 / 2006 (which describes European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, Cohesive Fund) and rule (EC) N° 1260 /1999.
• Particular attention has to be paid to the rule EC1083/2006, with articles concerning SME definition and need for SME Fund and Agency in the country, which is in line with the following EC rule 1083/2006 and articles:
Art.15.1.:(EC 1083/2008) - “Principle of Addition”. It assumes financial sustainability of the grant, i.e. financial participation which has to be divided among EU, the state, region and end users.
Art. 53: “Contribution of funds and annex III, EC 1998/2006”, which describes the amounts applicable to co-financing. The amount depends on GDP per capita of the member state compared to average GDP of member states.
Art. 58: “General Principles of managing controlling systems” on different levels (state level and others),
Art.59: “Determining Authority” (managing, monitoring costs, auditing) by the member state in order to have decentralized approach of these functions on national/regional levels.
The next proposal concerns the establishment of the SME Sector within Ministry of foreign trade and economic relations of B&H. During the period of strategy implementation this sector will function as a small operational body within Ministry. SME Sector within MOFTER will do coordination activities for SMEs in B&H, which are crucial for achieving transparency and compatibility of development and business support services across the country. This will also help reduce the overall costs of business development support services, particularly through joining of two important functions – function of development agency and function for support to SME development, i.e. development of entrepreneurship. The establishment of SME sector within Ministry of foreign trade and economic relations of B&H which
will take a role of SME Agency represents a fulfilling of responsibilities for B&H Council of Ministers by signing the document on European partnership of BH with EU. On 15 th February 2008 and 10 th April 2008 Government of Repubic of Srpska brought a conlusions where they gave remarks on Europian partnership document and they told that some priorities are not harmonized (one of them is establishing of SME Agency on state level), and they want to perform additional consultations with Council of Ministries of B&H. It is agreed the establishment of SME Sector within MOFTER which will have a role of SME Agency. In addition to the main developmental function, pertaining to regional strategic planning and securing of the EU (pre-) structural funding, the developmental functions of the SME sector will be:
− Primarily decentralized approach to entity/District/regional/cantonal incentives to SMEs agencies, as a coordinator
− Strategic development of new SME support services and instruments
− International cooperation with regional and international similar agencies
− Technical support to existing entity/regional/cantonal and local institutions for SME support
− Implementation of BH SME Development Strategy
− promotion of innovation and transfer of technologies; −−−−support to SMEs.
The SME Sector shall have a key role in organization and development of the Business Development Network and its maintenance. The main target group of this department is service providers involved in the Business Development Network, and – indirectly – the SME as the end users. The SME department shall combine strategic planning and implementation of the conclusions of the SME sector, including design, administration and establishment of standards for operating systems, supervision, evaluation and auditing of transactions. The SME department shall administer some international projects and country-level projects that are relevant for development of the SME sector in BH. The work of the SME sector may include:
−coordination of the Business Development Network, and specifically:
• implementation of the general framework standards of SME business support services of the Business Development Network (in the public sector) in BH and ensuring of continuous benchmarking of existing services;
• organization of training, development of training tools and packages in order to improve personnel skills in organizations for business support that are part of the Business Development Network (in the public sector);
− analysis of the SME development process in BH, based on feedback received from SMEs through the entities district and other development agencies, and based on the continuous benchmarking, recommend to the Council legislative improvements, new or improved SME development instruments and initiatives;
− develop national entrepreneurship portal as a common platform for SME support providers and for
SME, which consists of internal information system - Intranet solution for all members of the SMEs Development Network and members of the SME Council to cover their daily processes, group communications, on-line access to information and shared knowledge and the Internet portal for all companies and citizens;
− dissemination of successful programs and entrepreneurial experience, promotion of successes of the SME sector and promotion of the positive image of the SME sector in BH, as well as internationally;
− cooperation with domestic and international counterpart organizations;
− conduct annual surveys on SMEs competitiveness (e.g. taking part in the GEM 21 study “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor” and in the European Network for SME Research 22 with the project “Observatory of European SMEs”) and other surveys crucial for better understanding and consequently better planning of further SMEs policies and strategies.
To make business support services more visible to SMEs, ensure the exchange of best practices and better communication among SMEs’ development providers, to improve access to integrated information and shared knowledge databases and finally to ensure most efficient use of resources, the Business Development Network is proposed as the informal virtual business support providers’ network. The Business Development Network is envisaged as a platform (together with the entrepreneurial portal) for all support activities related to business. This means that in the case of establishment of any other business public network (for example an innovation network), the existing platform should be expanded for use of new members of the network (incubators, technology parks, research centers, etc.). The members themselves may initiate establishment of working groups as effective tools of targeted discussion and development of specialized services and projects on individual topics of interest. Business Development Network consists of all public agencies for business support and offices dealing with services for business support (including SME development agencies on entity levels, regional development agencies, agency for innovations, FIPA, chambers of commerce and economy, universities, business zones: special, industrial, entrepreneurial zones, etc.)
The role of individual development agencies are in:
− support to the promotion and coordination of harmonized economic development in the area of work;
− promotion of direct foreign investment;
− export promotion of enterprises in the areas where agencies are performing;
− support to entrepreneurs;
− support to technological development in the areas where agencies are performing;
− environmental protection.
The summary of the above description of individual institutions, directly linked to development and
21 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – GEM: http://www.gemconsortium.org
entrepreneurship, and their tasks, is shown in the following graph:
B&H level
Council of Ministries of B&H
Development and Enterpreneurship council
Ministry of foreign trade and economic relations of B&H – SME Sector
Founder: Council of Ministries Financing: Council of Ministries Managing: MOFTER minister Council has a four meetings during the year, and if there is a need then often Main tasks:
Founder: Council of Ministries Financing: Council of Ministries Managing: Assistent of minister
Works as a initiator in making decission process for bussines
- Preparation of state strategies, laws and regulations;
- Prioritetly decentralised approach for stimulating
Suggests activities and policies for the improvement of bussines
entity/district/cantonal/regional SME agencies as a coordinator;
Strategic development of new services and instruments for SME support;
Suggests strategic decisions and changes of laws and advocate SME
interests (monitoring indicators);
– International cooperation with regional and international agencies;
Technical support to existing entity/cantonal/regional and local institutions for SME support;
– Implementation of SME Development strategies in B&H;
Review of annual and multiannual reports, programs and strategies of SME sector within MOFTER and proposing a new programms.
– Promotion of inovations and technology transffer;
– SME support.
Entity and cantonal level
Entity and cantonal ministries
Development agencies of entities and cantons
Regional system in accordance with EU integrations
Entity and cantonal funds for SME development
Founder: Entity, cantonal or other institutions/organizations Financing: Entity and cantonal budgets and other sources Management structure established by founders
Providing of direct and indirect loans for SME development;
Guarantees for SME development;
Subventions for start – up bussines wtih
inovative/high technological work programms;
Subventions for SME development projects.
- Coordination of SME development and
- Enterpreneurship promotion;
- Implementation of enterpreneurship and SME
programms; - Information providing and SME consulting services;
- Organization of seminars for SMEs;
- Involvment in international projects which are important for entities and cantons.
- Support, promotion and coordination of harmonised economic development in region;
- Foreign direct investments promotion;
- Export promotion;
- Enterpreneurs support;
- Support to technological development in region;
- Cooperation on international projects related with regional development;
- Regional project management.
Founder: Municipality, associations of municipalities, other organizations/institutions Management structure established by founders Financing: Founders budgets, other funds Main tasks:
- Providing of information;
- Consulting services for SMEs;
- Cooperation on international projects which have local and regional importance;
The service market should not be distorted by overprotected and comprehensive services from the public
Municipal departments for economy, local agencies and associations, subregional agencies
sector. The public sector services are introduced as initial support offered to SMEs. Professional services of a higher level should remain in the domain of private providers. To some degree, the concession approach could be used for some services (e.g., concessions for provision of services of one-stop-shop offices can be given to small private providers, or with one-stop-shops where one of the main tasks is to provide information and disseminate certain types of information;
Public-private partnership is frequently introduced in case of major projects co-funded by the EU (frequently because this is required– when it involves structural funding – but often also when it is not a requirement, due to lack of human and financial resources on the part of SMEs, which can not provide own funding to ensure their financial participation or lack appropriate human resources and expertise to administer international projects; in this case, project management is often taken over by a public sector service provider, and professional tasks are performed by SMEs);
Depending on the (national, entity, regional or local) level in question, there are some differences in types of services offered by the public sector for SMEs. Institutions at the national level are in charge of developing national and international policies and strategies, developing of relevant instruments, initiatives and tools for SME development or for strengthening of public SME service providers (Business Development Network). The institutions at the national level usually do not offer services directly to SMEs (except in the case of the EICC 23 , due to type of its job and because it is founded only at the national level, as only one in the country, in the case of the Development and Entrepreneurship Fund, as only one of this type in the country, or in some similar cases). SME development or similar agencies at the entity or regional level could have a similar role for development of policies and strategies at the entity or regional levels expanded to include direct services for SMEs. Services at this level are usually more specialized than those at the local levels. This level also normally provides initial services connected with research and technological development, internationalization, establishment of partnerships and networking, and other complex issues. Both at the entity and regional levels, organizing training programs is recommended. Information function must be introduced at the local level. This means that the first-stop-shops must be established at the local level. These offices also offer initial consulting services connected to the fundamental problems of entrepreneurship, for instance, issues of company registration, administrative procedures, and availability of SME support instruments. We must stress the importance of sound organization, management and information support to any finally adopted institutional framework for its long-term sustainability and its positive image, which also results in a continuous SME growth. A detailed operational program and a project for implementation of these recommendations must be developed by MoFTER.
23 EICC – Euro Info Correspondence Center.
Institutions and bodies for implementation
E-end)
Establishment of the Development and Entrepreneurship Council
MOFTER, other relevant ministries, external experts
Development and Entrepreneurship Council established
Preparation of a detailed project with business plan for establishment of a new harmonized infrastructure for business support, ‘Development and Entrepreneurship Business Network’ to support SMEs
MOFTER, Development and Entrepreneurship Council, external experts
B, E: 2009
The project and business plan prepared
MOFTER, Development and
Entrepreneurship Council, external experts
SME sector established, the staff
Establishment of the SME Sector within MOFTER
trained at all levels,
specific activities introduced
SME Sector, Business Development
Network with all stakeholders for support of SMEs
First programs of Sector
Implementation of the SME sector programs
EEdduuccaattiioonn,, TTrraaiinniinngg aanndd CCoonnssuullttiinngg
Education and training contribute enormously to the development of the knowledge-based economy and consequently to economic development in general. From the SME point of view, education and training for entrepreneurship and availability of skills are vital development factors. The section proposes an introduction of new education and training models and programmes, and emphasizes the importance of involvement of all target groups in the educational and training process as well as universal availability of these services.
The main goals in the area of education for the period from 2009-2011 are:
Introduction of entrepreneurial subjects/programs in elementary and secondary schools, as well as at non- economic faculties at the university level for the following general matters:
•Promotion of entrepreneurship as business philosophy and multidisciplinary field, which should be applied in all spheres of human work and activities •Creation of conditions for developing the philosophy “get a job” and enhancing the philosophy “create your own job” •Accepting changes as a manner of thinking in terms of business development •Developing trainings for students focused on financial matters (financial engineering , building
• Number of formal educational institutions that have introduced entrepreneurship into their curriculum. • Number of participants and students participating in those programs
• Increase in the number of new companies established by young people.
• Number of courses created in the university
• Number of success stories explained by entrepreneurs to students
workshops on concrete projects
• Success stories explained by entrepreneurs to students.
Promotion of expansion of the number of private service providers for training, entrepreneurship and training for managers
- Number of institutions for education and training in the private sector
- Number of SMEs that are users
- Promotion and training on entrepreneurship
- Number of training programs and number of participants (List of Attendance) - Evaluation of the training progress by measuring the knowledge of the participants. Impacts of the training measured by Entrance- Exit Tests.
- Increased number of newly established companies
All formal education in BiH is undergoing reform. It applies to elementary, secondary, higher and university education. The reform of elementary and secondary education is taking place under the auspices of OSCE, and several other projects and programs are active (EU VET, GTZ 24 ). Higher and university education have accepted the principles of the reform defined by the Bologna Convention. Education in BH is implemented according to BH framework Curriculum (adopted in 2003). Issue of entrepreneurship in education system is treated differently, depending on education level and curriculum content. In elementary education system entrepreneurship is not a separate study subject. BH framework Law on university education is adopted, and sub-acts and implementation sub-acts are being introduced. Development of entrepreneurial and management study subjects within the universities in BiH is underway, mainly within the framework of EU TEMPUS program. Universities and faculties started introducing program of post-graduate studies, as well as many types of shorter seminars for those who are not able or interested to study within formal regular programs.
Entrepreneurship promotion and education of young entrepreneurs in secondary schools are also envisaged in the reform, and concrete activities are started and pilot projects implemented:
• In order to improve education programs in the area of entrepreneurship in secondary vocational schools, Republic Agency (in cooperation with Institute of Pedagogy) has changed curricula in “Basics of Entrepreneurship”, and the curricula for this study subject are same in all secondary vocational schools. The next anticipated activity is making of textbook “Introduction to Entrepreneurship” for secondary vocational schools, within first module of general entrepreneurship education.
• Education for entrepreneurship in secondary schools in FBH is not leveled. With recommendation of Ministry of development, Entrepreneurship and Craft, Federation government in early 2008 assigned Ministry (together with Ministry of Education and science FBH) to form work group which will make an overall view of the situation in this area, suggest appropriate measures and coordinate activities on all levels together with authorized education
24 Out of 58 curricula in BH, 36 has been modernized with the help of EU VET, and 22 are being modernized with GTZ
support (BH Official Gazette, no.65)
institutions (canton governments, authorized canton ministries, institutes for education etc.)
• Entrepreneurship as a study subject in Brcko District BH exists only in secondary commercial school.
Education of Entrepreneurship is or will be mainly focused on the following key topics:
• Student Enterprises
• Education for secondary school pupils and university students
• Fair of student enterprises (exchange with other EU countries)
• Competition of students on entrepreneurial skills
• Conference for students with businessmen
• Conference for teachers with international lecturers
• Co-operation between Universities and Entrepreneurs shall be improved
• Enhancing the idea to create clusters / incubators: How to finance them?
On the level of secondary education, the reform foresees to introduce practical work, workshops on real case studies, in addition to theory, in secondary schools as well as more subjects needed for the production process and services.
Youth entrepreneurship also enjoys considerable significance, and more effective professional programmes shall be implemented. At the university level, curricula are being developed for entrepreneurship and management of small enterprises under the auspices of the TEMPUS Program. Programs of post-graduate study are being started.
Common to all training programmes in place is that SMEs use them mainly if the training costs are subsidized by the donors. The awareness about the importance of continuous learning is still not widespread among SME managers. An awareness campaign should be developed by SMEs agencies about the EU programmes and the needs to develop financial engineering to create bankable projects for obtaining bank loans (micro-credit). Similarly, many SMEs are unaware of the benefits of consulting services, despite many donor projects.
In the past times, several programmes have been developed in order to train local consultants, but their quality has not always been in line with SME requirements. OECD research with SME focus groups indicated that SMEs find service delivery poor, with academic emphasis instead of practical skills and
know-how desired. To remedy to this situation, it is required that the following actions should be taken by all stakeholders (private-public) in charge of the regional development, and SMEs development:
• To perform a serious training needs assessment by enterprises split for those interested by national market and international market;
• To elaborate a training program for external consultant and for SMEs managers;
• To promote the idea that external consultants will be involved / paid for the performance supplied as flat fees and success fees;
• Public bodies will have the capacity to apply for international donors grants with the view to organise seminars / trainings.
The EU Member States are increasingly turning their attention to the promotion of entrepreneurship in education and training, seeking to develop and support the interest of their citizens for entrepreneurship, many of whom profess willingness to learn how to start or take over a business 25 . Particular attention is devoted to groups that are under-represented within entrepreneurial activity such as women, young people, disabled, single parents, unemployed, and third age citizens. Professional training centres should be envisaged with the view to supply skilled qualifications for ensuring equal opportunities and also to help the jobless to apply for a new job. Identification of available institutions with logistic support shall be performed to provide suitable training and consulting activities for various matters as here above indicated. Logistic support means to supply didactics tools for several types of trainings as:
• Consulting activities.
As evident from the above brief review of the entrepreneurial training and education strategies, the target groups comprise individuals at all stages in their life (from school education right through to third age, including disadvantaged persons). Strategies of individual EU members target individuals that have the capacity to become entrepreneurial, as well as existing entrepreneurs who are in a position to expand and grow their businesses. In addition to introduction of entrepreneurship at least into secondary schools and on the university level in BiH, it will be important to improve entrepreneurial and managerial skills of students at technical faculties. Therefore a certain level of flexibility of combining different programs from different faculties has to be established in a way that students can combine subjects from technical faculties with several most important entrepreneurial and managerial subjects from the economics faculties. Universities will also develop some knowledge centres turned towards international dimension of SMEs targeting an increase for foreign direct investment and export trade (International dimension for SMEs). The typology of course shall be an integrated bridge among school, university, professional training and working world. In the context of ongoing reform of the formal education system, which includes the entrepreneurship and managers skills development, improved transparency of existing educational and training programmes for SMEs or entrepreneurially-minded individuals would be necessary for both educational and training institutions and organisations as well as for SMEs. A special database on available SME training and educational programmes and materials in BH (either of formal ones or shorter seminars for all target groups organised at any level in BH) should be developed and its contents publicly presented via the planned “BiH entrepreneurship portal 26 ” for publishing of information, with its development resting with MoFTER.MoFTER’s periodic publications, brochures, leaflets, should be issued and spread to SMEs allowing them to get appropriate information on training sessions (Place, date, training topics, MoFTER publications shall be supplied to SMEs through SMEs agencies.
25 Commission of the European Communities. 2003. Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Thinking Small in
an Enlarging Europe. COM(2003) 26 final. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities.
26 See Chapter 6 for more details
Awareness campaigns to stimulate development of entrepreneurial spirit in the country and among all target groups are another instrument extensively used in the EU countries on a permanent basis. Such awareness campaigns often include events such as entrepreneurship days, awards for successful entrepreneurs and various guidelines, training and informational materials on entrepreneurial opportunities. The role of governments at all levels is to ensure the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders. Awareness campaign will have also as objectives:
• to promote a process of occupational job insertion / creation / reinsertion
• To support the long life learning to develop the welfare of the workers through the development of their enterprises.
At the level of the enterprises (SMEs), learning and training courses shall be organised as follows:
• Periodical courses turned towards professional training tailor-made to the objectives of the enterprise.
At the university level in particular, direct interaction between businesses and formal theoretical programmes has to be ensured, and students must be given opportunities to acquire entrepreneurial work experience, either in successful BiH companies or with the help of simulated/fictional business start-ups. Success stories shall be supplied to students through publications, MOFTER web-site or simply by entrepreneurs acting as lecturer for students. In addition to the regular formal entrepreneurial education at the primary, secondary or university level, the development of new training products, either with the assistance of public business support providers or private sector, must be based on real needs of start-ups or of growing companies. In European countries, different instruments of initial and specialised training and consultancy are introduced. The most popular are linked to the vouchers scheme approach, for example:
- The system of training/educational vouchers, designed to promote job creation through training people to become self-employed or to set up small business or to use the vouchers to cover the costs of a course of education or training intended for SME employees, in both cases at a recognised institution. Every voucher has a certain market value), with one half paid by the enterprise and half from the government budget allocated for this instrument (in some cases – for self-employed the enterprise contribution can be even lower). An enterprise can purchase a limited number of vouchers every year. Vouchers can be used for any training programme(s) available and offered by public or private providers recognised by a responsible authority, but selected by SMEs themselves.
- The consultancy voucher system approach is complementary to the one described above. Vouchers may be used by start-ups and/or young companies (in some cases the limit is up to 3 year-old companies) for co-financing (up to 50%) of consultancy and mentoring services. The procedures for official recognition of external consultants have to be open, simple and transparent. Consultants are certified by the responsible authority.
For both above-mentioned voucher systems a SWOT analysis of the benefits of their potential introduction in BiH should be conducted taking into consideration of the following basic rules for a Voucher System.
Information campaigns, including entrepreneurship days and awards for enterprises
SME Sector, regional, entity and local SME support agencies
B:2009-
Directly: increased number of new enterprises
Development of database with available training programs and education for SME. It will be integrated in “information system and portal for entrepreneurs“
SME Sector, authorized ministries on all levels, business networks for development and entrepreneurship, external experts
B, E-2009
Database developed and available on-line
Preparation of project for establishing training voucher system
MOFTER (until establishing of Sector), authorized ministries on all levels, external experts
Preparation of project for establishing consultancy voucher system
Implementation of training voucher system
SME Sector, authorized ministries on all levels, external experts
B-2009 –
Implementation of consultancy voucher system
Activities related to formal education are not mentioned in implementation plan since they are part of other strategies and in domain of other authorities. Cooperation in making concrete curriculum for entrepreneurship within formal education system has to be ensured through relevant coordinating bodies, and one of the tasks of SME Sector within MOFTER and Council for Development and entrepreneurship will be participation in its development.
88 TTaaxxaattiioonn MMeeaassuurreess aanndd FFiinnaanncciiaall IInnssttrruummeennttss
This chapter evaluates existing funding schemes for entrepreneurship and taxation measures. It describes different financial instruments (loans/finance schemes for new and small business, business angels, taxation measures, mutual guarantee schemes etc.) which are in broad use in other countries.
For the period the strategy covers, the main goals might be:
- to facilitate access to credit funds
amount of credit funds and number of SME users
- to promote development of specific financial instruments
amount of concrete financial support to SMEs and number of SME users
- to stimulate development of capital market for SMEs with a prospect of rapid growth
number of SMEs and /or projects that are (co)- financed with risk or other capital and their values
- harmonization of taxation system in the country
-number of harmonized laws
- promotion and training of SMEs in the area of options for funding their growth and projects
- number of training programs and number of participants
It is expected that the ongoing privatization process in B&H will increase the inflow of foreign capital, who will invest into promising, innovative projects in BiH in the future. SMEs in BiH have to understand (in addition to typical credit financing, taxation and subsidy systems) also the operational principles of the capital markets.
8.1 Summary of the current situation in BiH and proposed development
The tax policy reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in process. Value Added Tax Law with a single rate of 17% was adopted in late 2004 and it is in force. The state-level Indirect Taxation Administration is in charge of collecting VAT, all excises and payments related to international trade. In BH, corporation income tax is 10%.
Other tax obligations, which are currently entity-determined have different tax rates (e.g. tax on income of legal persons, wage tax, property tax), pose problems. If a company is based in the Brčko District and it has branches in the entities, the income tax for the branch is paid in the entity where the business unit is registered, and for the portion of income realized in the Brčko District, the tax is paid in the District. The same applies to the situation when the company is headquartered in one of the entities, and a branch is located in the Brèko District.
Finally, the implementation of different tax incentives for the support of local SMEs, especially of those investing in complicated sectors, may be taken into consideration. Directly, MoFTER is not in charge of changes of legal framework for taxation measures, but an active cooperation on preparation or change of tax laws will be required to secure more favorable conditions for development of SMEs.
8.1.2 Financial instruments
The majority of business representatives stress access to finance as their primary concern. Most feel that loans for working capital and new investment are hard to get. They also tend to rely on family and individual capital for investment rather than expecting affordable financing from banks, Micro-Credit Organizations (MCOs), leasing companies and other institutions that provide loans-direct financing instruments.
Small and medium enterprises are faced with lack of liquidity and high interest rates. On the other hand, banks and MCOs note that they made many loans to SMEs and there is still sufficient capital available for lending to SMEs, but the banks are still unwilling to offer long-term loans. Most bank loans to SMEs are short-term, though SMEs keep demanding long-term loans. Evidently, SMEs suffer because of this gap between their capital needs and the willingness of banks to face accompanying risks. Banks require from SMEs too high guarantees for such small loans and their procedures for loan approval are slow and complicated. Most banks approve loans based more on guarantors and high collateral requirements, rather than on analysis of the borrower’s business plans, cash flow projections, and other commercial indicators of the borrower’s ability to pay. Banks and other investors prefer real estate and dead capital to business processes and market perspective of a borrower. The shortage of loan analytical skills in both banks and SMEs is of great concern. Even with adequate analysis, BiH banks demand high collateralization. Loans to collateral ratios are often in the 30 - 50% range. As a result, SME assets fail to secure additional financing as in other CEE countries. Over the last eight years numerous entrepreneurs started their businesses with the loans from the micro credit organizations. With the help of the World Bank and 27 other donor organizations, MCOs developed a formula that meets some of the financing needs of new and existing SMEs. However, SMEs are not always satisfied with micro credits. There are warnings that the interest rates in MCOs are very high and that is why their funds are slowly implemented. Interest rates at commercial banks are in many cases more favorable. Leasing is relatively new form of business in BH (the first leasing company was established in April 2001), and from the beginning it faced problems in doing business because of the existing laws are not harmonized with leasing type of business. In BH, indirect financial instruments are developing. At time being majority of the CEE countries (CEECs) have introduced credit guarantee schemes (except of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Moldova) 27 . However, the initiatives of establishing credit guarantee schemes in Bosnia and Herzegovina flourished in the last few years. The initiatives are mostly implemented by local NGOs in cooperation with international organizations. Recently, some regional development agencies established the funds for their areas of operation.
27 Szabo, 2005 - http://www.erenet.org/papers/szabo2005.pdf
There are 5 operational credit Guarantee Funds in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the moment. There is no state (entity) support to these initiatives, apart to some cantonal and municipal investments.
Governments of entities and of Brcko District develop different mechanisms for SME support through their institutions and ministries, and beside other mechanisms, they also use grants. This type of help to SME support is not harmonized and coordinated. One of the most significant issues for SMEs is to find a simple access to finance, in order to sustain their growth and obtain sufficient resources for the implementation of their strategic plans. Problems faced by SMEs in obtaining finance result primarily from the reluctance of many financial institutions to service small business clients on grounds of costs or risks, or because of their limited business capacity. Thus, availability of financing is not a major constraint: critical problems arise from the relative immaturity of the banking and financial sectors, as well as from the perception that SME financing is both risky and too costly. In this situation, different instruments for the support of local SMEs should be deployed or strengthened, so as to assist them until a well-functioning banking system is established. Hence, several alternatives can be explored in order to broaden SME opportunities to obtain financing.
Various modes of financing SMEs are in use around the world, and the choice depends greatly on the development stage of the enterprise. Thus, in the start-up phase in the life cycle of an SME, financial assistance should focus on equity as well as on the support of the initial business activities. Four main instruments have been identified for this purpose: so-called business angels; seed capital and equity capital; micro-credit and e-finance. The phase of development and growth represents the second stage in the development of an SME. Its revenues start to grow and the company becomes profitable. Therefore, SMEs in this phase need a different kind of support: generally speaking debt financing may become more important than equity, since the company is already structured. Seven instruments can be identified for application in this stage: venture capital; debt markets and ABS; loans and grants; factoring; guarantees and, leasing.
When improving financial support, the authorities should offer different forms of financing, and to set up such legal framework to attract also private seed and equity capital, as well as both domestic and foreign venture and risk capital. An SME definition is a necessary precondition to clearly delineate SME target group in the entire country. In addition, the EU has clear regulations on modes of financial support to SMEs 28 . Such rules should also be incorporated in the BiH regulations as well. Training programs on different types of business activities or on project financing are also indispensable to ensure that different financing forms are properly and most beneficially exploited for SMEs.
28 EC Treaty on State Aid to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises; Source: http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/ l26064.htm
8.2 Implementation plan with expected results and timelines
– E – ending
MoFTER,
B: 2009 - ongoing
SME sector, responsible
B: 2009 – ongoing
ministries and SME support agencies, external experts as needed
99 SSttrreennggtthheenniinngg TTeecchhnnoollooggiiccaall aanndd IInnnnoovvaattiioonn CCaappaacciittyy ooff SSMMEEss
In all developed countries, there is agreement that technological and innovation capacity is the most important development and competitiveness factor of today's world. This chapter describes the most important instruments to assist SMEs in their innovation processes and in their use of most recent technology available in their daily working processes. Improvements to the current system and introduction of new instruments are proposed.
For the period of the strategy applies, the main goals are:
- Improvements of access for SMEs to appropriate infrastructure, knowledge and research results
- Number of incubators, technological parks, university centres for applied research, which are opened for partnership with the private sector and number of users which are SMEs
Number of training programs and number of their participants Increased number of patents through innovation friendly legislation (patenting).
Promotion and training in the area of research and technological development and innovations
The situation in BiH we can summarize as follows:
• Before the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina there was a strong link and network of cooperation between science and research centers within the universities (Sarajevo/Zenica, Tuzla, Mostar) and large enterprises. This cooperation is nowadays very weak, and between SMEs and science and research centers almost non-existent.
• The legislation and regulations in this field have not yet been defined and there is at best only sporadic funding available in this field.
• The “cluster concept” is relatively new in BiH and represents a new development model. The international donors are assisting in identification of clusters possibilities in BiH. USAID has recently started the activities to establish a wood industry cluster in Central Bosnia and an tourism cluster in Herzegovina, while GTZ leads the activities on development of three clusters: auto, textile and leather industries.
In BiH, there are no programs to promote technologies in small enterprises, except presentations at fairs. The main barrier for transferring technologies to SMEs, apart from non-existence of such programs, is also a lack of information on new technologies. There are no development projects for SMEs involving new technologies.
The legal frameworks are usually defined by the Law on Intellectual Property and related laws, which are not directly within the remit of the MoFTER, although they have considerable effects on competitiveness of SMEs.
In Europe, in recent years, special attention has been devoted to development of an environment supportive to innovation. Many programmes and projects have been initiated either by the European Commission or on the level of individual member states.
The situation in BiH is such that due to different governments, different initiatives have been launched, even at the level of the local governments. This results in a complex, poorly organised situation where SMEs do not know where to start and who exactly to contact for what service. SMEs also often complain of the voluminous amount of paperwork and the time-consuming project approval processes. It is extremely important that the government implements one central policy and organization for the support, coordination and stimulation of research and development in BiH.
The innovation policy and relevant legal framework would be needed on a national level and an agency for innovation can be organized either on the national or entity level. Also from the European best practices, it is evident that an agency for innovation is a good choice for co-ordination of innovation and R&D activities. An agency for innovation and/or technological development can also integrate a special fund (or it can be established as an independent institution) which offers companies (including SMEs) financial support for innovative R&D projects. In some countries this role is taken over by the national development funds which support other types of projects as well.
Targeted promoting of innovation shall have to take into consideration the following key topics as:
• Innovation friendly legislation (patenting);
• Tax measures : R& D and Innovation Potential Expenditure;
• Wide spread information on R&D and EU Innovation programmes;
• Elaboration of strategy at mid (horizon 2010), long-term (horizon 2015-2020) for implementing innovation infrastructure (industrial parks, technology centres, technology incubators);
• Students in R&D and tax free up to minimum wage;
• Tax base reduction for R&D donations;
• Interest financing for post-financed EU R&D sources (SMEs, and NGOs);
• Guarantee institution to promote utilisation of innovative potential;
• Easy establishing of spin-off companies : own decision with limited cash assets, capital programme;
• Foreign experts promotion;
• Introduction of the concept of standards as ISO 9000
Establishment of incubators and technological parks is necessary as well as establishment of clusters; in BiH this process is already underway. What is missing is an innovation policy or strategy, which would define the roles of all existing stakeholders, identify possible new ones to be established, and set up the mechanisms for coordination among them. This strategy should also define the conditions for establishment of incubators, technological parks and other support institutions with their roles. At the same time, the ways for SMEs to access these forms of support should be clarified. An innovation strategy would be a good base for establishment of an innovation network (members can be existing local business centres or regional agencies with the extension services geared to promotion of innovation and research programmes, supported by EC or by BiH governments). Universities and research centres, technological parks and technology-oriented incubators, inventors and other stakeholders should also be members of an innovation network.
Such organisation would result in enhanced transparency, better targeted spending of foreign assistance and improved efficiency of funded programmes and projects, all of which should give raise to a bigger interest of SMEs for technology transfer opportunities and for increased orientation on innovation. Although eligible, BiH SMEs do not participate in the EU 7 th Framework Programme, a principal European research programme which funds numerous research projects from all over Europe every year. It would be necessary to improve the dissemination of information and assistance linked to such programmes among SMEs through the EICC and other business support providers.
There are other research European programmes and initiatives in which BiH SMEs can participate but the BiH Government needs to initiate appropriate procedures at EU level:
− COST Research Programme (all countries in Europe, including neighbouring countries, are taking part in this programme, except Albania and BiH); EUREKA Initiative 29 – a pan-European Network for market-oriented industrial R&D innovation (all countries in Europe as well as BiH neighbouring countries are taking part in this programme, except Macedonia and BiH).
The Innovation Relay Centres Network is also co-funded within the 7 th Framework Programme. And the BiH Government must check the possibility of membership and start the application procedure for membership in this well-organised network. Another broadly recognised European network recommended is the EBN - the European BIC Network of public or private organizations – for support, to innovative SMEs and entrepreneurs with long tradition. EBN gathers 160 Business and Innovation centres (BICs) and similar organisations such as incubators, innovation centres and entrepreneurship centres. EBN is the reference point on innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship in Europe. For both mentioned networks it would first be necessary to solve the legal issues on innovation policy and organize an appropriate SME innovation support infrastructure. From many BiH reports it is evident that SMEs have little interest in R&D and innovation issues. For this reason, more efforts should be given to introduction of training programmes as early as secondary schools, and certainly at university levels, as well as training programmes for current managers, which should be in the form of shorter seminars. The awareness campaigns at national level will be spread over the regions and entities are also a very efficient tool to reach a broad audience.
Awareness monitoring system shall be implemented and Awareness & annual