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Starting a business

Improving your job opportunities

Have you returned to Serbia from abroad and want to settle in again? But are you finding it difficult to find a job in Serbia?

The Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB, a German aid and welfare organisation) can help you to improve your chances in the job market. It works together with local organisations.

The ASB offers you

  • Basic training courses if you want to set up a business
  • Vocational training and further education
  • Personal advice during the entire process
  • Courses for children and young people to get them through the difficult time after returning
  • Integration and inclusion courses for adults

Please get in touch via the following website if you’re interested: https://asb-see.org/contact/

Or feel free to get more information from the centre on site, via e-mail or by phone.

Worth knowing Place: Belgrade Availability: until the end of April 2025 Language / languages: Serbian Costs: free of charge Target group: Members of the Roma minority, returnees under the Readmission Agreement; young people from disadvantaged or vulnerable groups
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Advice relevant to your situation

You’re looking for advice that provides a good overview. You’re living in Serbia or have returned to Serbia from abroad. Are you finding it difficult to integrate? Or do you have a business idea that you’d like to turn into reality? Would you like further training? Or are you looking for a job?
 
Then you can get help from the German Information Centre on Migration, Vocational Training and Employment (DIMAK). In addition to its 2 main centres in Belgrade, there are 6 hotspot offices in Novi Pazar, Kraljevo, Bor, Novi Sad, Kruševac and Niš.
You can go to these to find out, for example:

  • How and where you can ask for emergency accommodation
  • How and where you can get an identity card or health insurance
  • Your rights and the services to which you are entitled
  • How to find a job or a suitable training course
  • How to submit the best job application

Your current situation may be very difficult. Perhaps you or a member of your family feels unable to cope. Here, too, DIMAK can provide support. It can refer you to people who will listen to you and help you. These people are trained in psychosocial work. Their goal is to help you rediscover your potential, build your self-confidence and set you on the path to a new improved situation.

Here you can learn more about this and how the centre can support you.

You are welcome to contact DIMAK on site, by phone or online for further information.
 

Contact details for the centres:

Belgrade
Opening hours: weekdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +38162204258
+38163415294 (New Belgrade)

Novi Pazar
Opening hours: Mondays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518891

Kraljevo
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381638557494

Bor
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518893

Novi Sad
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381631117019

Kruševac
Opening hours: Thursdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381631117024

Niš
Opening hours: Fridays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518892

Worth knowing Place: Belgrade, Novi Pazar, Kraljevo, Bor, Novi Sad, Kruševac, Niš Language / languages: Serbian, English Costs: This service is free of charge. Target group: returnees and the local population
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Better opportunities in the job market

The Serbian National Employment Agency (NSZ) offers education and training programmes.
By taking part, you can learn new skills. This helps you to improve your opportunities in the job market.

The NSZ also offers you:

  • Internships
  • Training courses leading to additional qualifications
  • Training on starting a business
  • Training courses in cooperation with employers
  • Vocational development for adults
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New opportunities after returning

The NGO Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. and the League of Roma – Standing Conference of the Roma Associations of Citizens (SKRUG) are offering help to people who have returned to Serbia under the readmission agreement. They use their network of local information centres to do this.

The NGO Help offers various services:

  1. Information and help for returnees and those who are socially vulnerable
  2. Restoring, adapting and equipping the homes of returnees and the socially vulnerable with basic furniture and appliances
  3. Equipment relating to self-employment and employment to help individual micro-businesses started by Roma, returnees and the socially vulnerable
  4. Business and vocational training to improve the knowledge, skills and qualifications of the unemployed, Roma, returnees and those who are socially vulnerable
  5. The provision of school supplies to help children and socially disadvantaged families to integrate into the formal education system
  6. Emergency aid in cooperation with DIMAK (if required)
  7. Referral system for examination for the purpose of mental health protection

There are no specific conditions regarding this help. More information will be provided in a personal conversation.

For more information please contact the German Information Centre on Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK) in person, via telephone or online.

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Help for Help for returnees

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO) has a number of active projects ongoing in the period from 2021 to 2023.

There are lots of projects for people who have come back from Germany to Serbia. These projects are offered by 32 local and/or district governments:

  • Housing improvements and subsidies for restoring dwellings
  • Help with a new economic start, such as starting a business
  • Urgent help
  • Referral of returnees to partner institutions and associations
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Advice on all aspects of reintegration

You can get information and advice from the German Information Centre for Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK). Each consultation is designed exclusively to meet your needs.

This offer is aimed at:

  • Returnees from Germany and other countries
  • Locals who are interested in emigrating to Germany

DIMAK helps you with your return and reintegration and can refer you to the appropriate agencies. These can be governmental and non-governmental institutions dealing with areas like:

  • Job hunting in Serbia
  • How to start your own business in Serbia
  • How to assert your rights
  • The opportunities that may be available
  • “Social protection” as a key concept
  • Improving your qualifications

DIMAK's contacts can be found here.

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Advice and financial support

Solidarity Service International (SODI) supports you in setting up your own business. SODI offers business training for entrepreneurs.

This training includes the following:

  • Business start-up advice
  • Help in drawing up a business plan
  • Help in analysing the market

You can apply to SODI for financial support when you have completed the training.

For more information, feel free to contact the German Information Centre on Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK) via phone, e-mail or in person.

You will find further details on SODI’s Facebook page or website.

You do not have to pay for this advisory service.

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Support for start-ups/ jobseekers

The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) supports you in finding a job. It also helps you if you want to found a company/start-up.

ADRA offers you a possibility of acquiring new knowledge and skills, increasing competencies and capacities on the labour market.

ADRA provides grants of 1500 EUR for business expansion.

The support ADRA provides also includes:

  • Coaching, courses, trainings and technical assistance
  • Workshops on life skills and employability
  • Learning assistance for children
  • Support in active job search
  • Assistance when enrolling in secondary schools
  • Trainings on human and labour rights
  • Sharing information on how and where to file a complaint for discrimination at work and in general

For more information you can visit the website or you can contact the German Information Center on Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK) directly.

Worth knowing Go to website
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Business plan and financial support

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO) provides various training courses to support people who want to set up their own business.

There is a training course that teaches you how to write a business plan. The business plan explains your business idea. You list how much money you need and what you will use it for.

Your business plan can be used to apply to the EHO for financial support.

You will find further details on the website. You do not have to pay for these services.

Worth knowing Place: Belgrad Duration: 2022 to 2025 Go to website
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Setting up a business in Vojvodina

The NES in Vojvodina supports people in Vojvodina who want to set up their own business. It offers training courses and financial support for people who want to set up their own business.

The training courses teach you:

  • What is important when setting up your own business
  • How to write a business plan

You can apply for financial support. The following conditions apply:

  • You live in Vojvodina
  • You are registered with the NES
  • You have completed an NES business start-up training course
  • You have a business plan

You can apply once a year. There is a public call for applications. The maximum funding available is RSD 300,000.

For more information please contact the German Information Centre on Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK).

You can also find more information on the website of the NES
 

Worth knowing Place: Vojvodina For more information, contact the German Information Centre for Migration, Training and Careers (DIMAK). Go to website
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In Vojvodina: Support for the self-employed

Every year, the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS) provides financial support to people in Vojvodina who want to set up their own business.

The conditions:

  • You must be registered with the National Employment Service (NES) in the Vojvodina region
  • You first have to complete the NES business start-up course

Grants of between RSD 250,000 and RSD 300,000 are available.

See the website for further details. Feel free to call if you have questions.

Worth knowing Go to website
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