Business has no borders

Ref: 2007CB16IPO006-2011-2-251

Beneficiaries:
Community Development Association Bor - Serbia
Bulgarian Management Association - Bulgaria

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Cross-border cooperation within IPA has the objective of promoting good neighbourly relations, fostering stability, security and prosperity in the mutual interest of all countries concerned, and of encouraging their harmonious, balanced and sustainable development.

Learning from past experience, IPA CBC operates on both sides of the border on the basis of one set of rules and objectives, thus providing the opportunity for fully equal and balanced programming and decision making process.

The objectives of the IPA CBC component are designed to take into consideration the specific needs of the respective external border.
These are:

  • Development of cross-border economic, social and environmental activities in border areas
  • Address common challenges in the field of environment, public health, prevention and fight against organized crime
  • Ensure efficient and secure borders
  • Promote legal and administrative cooperation
  • Promote local “people to people” type of actions

Overall objective of the project is to support entrepreneurship through innovative bi-lateral cooperation between the active economic players - entrepreneurs, SMEs, farmers, NGOs сupporting businesses, local authorities - in the Serbian District of Bor and the Bulgarian District of Montana.

The project aims at mobilization of local entrepreneurship spirit by stimulating the identification of new business ideas, by encouraging people to search and utilize new business opportunities and by keeping local authorities, NGOs, investors and finance providers involved and responsible for the creation of more favourable environment for business development in the cross border region.


  • Research, analysis and strategy on integrated cross-border economic development for the District of Bor and the District of Montana
  • Study visits to District of Bor and the District of Montana and exchange of best practices
  • Conference on entrepreneurship and business opportunities in Bor.
  • Development of a web portal with databases to assist entrepreneurs, SMEs and potential investors in both regions
  • Development of a set of consulting materials
  • Project promotion and publicity

  • Prepared analyses of the current economic situation in both regions
  • Prepared strategies for integrated cross-border economic development for the District of Bor and the District of Montana
  • 20 entrepreneurs, representatives of SMEs and farmers exchanging experience in Serbia and Bulgaria
  • 40 participants at the conference on entrepreneurship and business opportunities.
  • Web portal and database to assist entrepreneurs, SMEs and potential investors in both regions.
  • A set of consulting materials.
  • Project promotion and publicity – 1 000 brochures, four plates, two banners, four newspaper releases and four regional radio announcements.