The first Regional Fair of Social Enterprises from the South-East Planning Region was held

On 01.12.2021 in Strumica was held the first Regional Fair of Social Enterprises from the South-East Planning Region organized by the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region supported by the project “Support to Social Entrepreneurship” which is financially supported by the European Union.

The fair was officially opened by Mr. Julieta Gjurkova, Director of the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region. “At this moment, social entrepreneurship as a concept is still new in our country, but we are ready to open our hearts and minds to learn new opportunities” – said Mr. Gjurkova.

Municipality of Strumica, Mr. Kosta Kostadinov, who gave a brief overview of the importance of the connection between local self-government and social enterprises, while the idea and beginnings of the project were discussed by the Team Leader of the project “Support to Social Entrepreneurship”, Mr. Barbara Sadovska from Poland. They say that in order to cross the path of success, listen to the stories of successful people.

Guided by that motto, the fair presented the beginnings of the three most successful social enterprises in the region for the development of their social mission, and all that they have achieved to date.

At the end of the fair, a panel discussion was organized to discuss the opportunities for sustainability and growth of regional social enterprises, by providing financial, mentoring and other support from various funds. While through the exhibition stands of about twenty potential social enterprises and NGOs from the South-East Planning Region, visitors had the opportunity to enjoy and get acquainted with the social mission, entrepreneurial ideas, their potentials and the possibility of future cooperation.

THE FIRST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SUPPORT CENTER OPENED AND THE FIRST SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FAIR WAS HELD

On November 19, 2021, within the project “Support to Social Entrepreneurship”, the Center for Support of Social Enterprises was opened in Skopje and the first National Fair for Social Enterprises was held, where more than 50 exhibitors, including organizations and companies from the South-East Planning Region, presented their stands together with representatives from the Regional Office for Social Entrepreneurship in Strumica.

This project is funded by the European Union and implemented by Eptisa, in consortium with Barca and Ecoris, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

The Center for Support of Social Enterprises will provide its users (organizations, social enterprises, institutions and individuals) with advice, guidance and assistance on practical issues and challenges, such as: fundraising, company registration, networking opportunities, business development, employment aspects, procurement, partnership building, available financial support, marketing and many other services.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia Fatmir Bitiqi, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska, Stefan Hudolin, responsible for cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the Project Leader – Barbara Sadovska.

A two-day workshop held in the frame of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”

The Centre for development of the South-East planning Region in the frame of the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”, on 26th and 27th of November 2021, organized a two-day workshop to establish an informal network between stakeholders from the two cross border regions in order to create good coordination and structure for prevention and adequate response to natural and environmental hazards, with special emphasis and focus on forest fires.

Besides representatives from the Centre, as organizers of the event, the workshop was attended by representatives of the Project Lead Partner – Association of Southwestern Municipalities, Blagoevgrad – Republic of Bulgaria, representatives of municipalities, municipal territorial firefighting units and volunteer associations from both countries, representatives of regional Crisis Management Centres, representatives of the regional offices of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, as well as all stakeholders in preventing and mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, environmental hazards and human factor caused disasters.

The workshop was successfully conducted and all participants contributed with their presentations and discussions. As part of the workshop, a framework for the functioning of the informal network was prepared, as well as a draft Memorandum of Cooperation which will be sent to all participants and stakeholders for additional comments and finalization before it is finally signed at the Final Conference of the project.

“Creating good coordination and structure for prevention of the forest fires, but also timely response is essential in implementing this partnership. This is what makes our job easier, quick contacts and efficient data collection. They provide us with their information, we give our data regarding the type of the burning material, the surface, the weather conditions in our country, the weather conditions in their country so that a joint action could be implemented”, said Mr. Mitko Dimchev – Inspector in the Directorate for protection and rescue (regional unit Strumica).

The network is informal and in the future will serve as a basis for better coordination between the competent structures in both countries. Although the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria already have several international agreements in the field of civil protection, this network will facilitate cooperation primarily between local and regional institutions.

“The establishment of this network will in big extent facilitate the communication between the colleagues from our country and the Republic of Bulgaria for joint and coordinated performance on the field”, said Alexander Gudev – Commander of Territorial Firefighting Unit Strumica.

The participants in the workshop shared many positive experiences that should guide the institutions in the future, but also shared real problems that need to be addressed together.

This project is co-funded by the European Union and by National Funds of the Participating Countries under the IPA Cross – Border Programme

New President of the Council for development of the South-East planning region

On November 23, 2021, in Strumica, the Council for development of the South-East planning region held its first (constitutive) session, on which all Mayors of the ten Municipalities of the region were present, as well as the director and representatives of the Centre for development of the South-East planning region.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the mandate of the Mayors was verified and after the constitution of the Council, the Mayor of Municipality of Gevgelija Mr. Andon Saramandov was unanimously elected for President who will chair the Council for development of the South-East planning region with a mandate of one year. He expressed gratitude for the trust of his fellow mayors and pointed that priority should be given to regional projects that are sustainable and of high quality in the long run and that lasting solutions are needed for better and improved quality of life in both rural and urban areas. All mayors, as members of the Council of development of the South-East planning region, have an obligation in the upcoming period to raise living standards and investments of this part of the country.

During the session, the Council adopted a Decision on initiating a procedure for electing a representative of the business community for a member of the South-East planning region and a Decision for announcing a public call for electing a member of the Council for South-East planning region – a representative of the associations that will be published in the next period. After the adoption of these Decisions, and in accordance with the Law on balanced regional development, one representative from the business community and one representative from an association will enter as members of the Council for without the right to vote for a term of four years.

At the end of the session, the director of the Centre for development of SEPR Ms. Gjurkova informed the members of the Council about the current projects implemented by the Centre and the activities that are responsibility of the Council for development of the South-East planning region in the following period.

With the organization of the info day, the Centre for development of SEPR marked the successful implementation of the project “HELP”

The Centre for development of the South-East planning region in the past few years has worked intensively to provide modern infrastructure and equipment for crisis management, which was actually the main goal of the project “Integrated Operational Center for Humanitarian Aid – HELP”.

The implemented activities and the achieved results of the project were presented on the info day which was organized on October 26, 2021 and which event actually marked the successful implementation of the project “HELP”.

One of the main activities in the project was the supply and installation of the Command Center equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that will enable to increase the responsibility, rapid response, modern methods and coordination of human resources in the crisis management process which is a very complex process and requires the involvement of all relevant institutions, both on regional and national level.

Within the project, posters with instructions on how to react in case of fire and earthquake were prepared and they were distributed throughout the municipalities, all primary and secondary schools, as well as through other public buildings in the South-East region.

National and cross-border protocols on communication, cooperation and coordination and Crisis Management Plans for the whole South-East region were also prepared, which will provide clear instructions on actions that need to be taken and which process to follow, because in times of crisis timely action and time management are essential.

The project which officially ends on October 31, 2021 is funded by the European Union and the National Funds of the participating countries through the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020.

CDSEPR WINNER OF THE “STVARATELJI ZA STOLJECA” AWARD

From October 21-24, 2021, part of the team of the Centrе for development of the South-East Planning Region, led by the Director Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova attended the seventh Regional Summit for Entrepreneurship for the award “Stvaratelji za stoljeca” held in Dubrovnik R. Croatia.

At this event, Ms. Gjurkova, as the Director of CDSEPR, was awarded with one of the most prestigious awards and recognition in South-East Europe, where awards were given only to the  individuals, organizations and institutions whose dedicated work contributes to the development of entrepreneurship and economy in Central and South-East Europe.

The “Stvaratelji za Stoljeca” Award is a kind of entrepreneurial Oscar and is given only to the great visionaries and leaders of tomorrow whose fearlessness, work, knowledge, creativity and top results are the foundation and main driver of the community’s progress.

This recognition is a confirmation of the uniqueness of the strategy and the ability of the Center to create long-term and healthy growth, focused on the unreserved support of the business community. In this light, the Center builds its reputation: always open for cooperation, innovative and unique. As in the past 13 years,  in the future the focus of our team will be on implementing activities and projects to improve the quality of life of all citizens. This award is just a confirmation that we are on the right track. – pointed out Ms. Gjurkova at the summit “300 Najbolji”.

The purpose of this award is to publicly recognize the best in order to be recognized from the public, who in these dynamic times with original solutions and creativity promote community life and entrepreneurship.

By receiving this prestigious award and recognition for her contribution to the development of entrepreneurship and the economy, the Director of the Center for development of SEPR, Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova has been appointed as member of the International Award Committee.

This award belongs to all those who believe in the internal capacities of the Center, who with great trust and loyalty entrusted us with all the projects that we have realized during these 13 years. The responsibility given to us is great and with all our will, strength and desire to improve the lives of everyone around us we continue to realize this great vision.

RECOGNITION PLAQUE AND AWARD FOR THE CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEPR FOR THE INTENSIVE COOPERATION WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE ACADEMY AT REGIONAL LEVEL FOR 2020

The only lifelong, sure motivations are those that come from within, and the strongest of them are the joy and pride that grow when you received recognition that you did something good in a year that despite the difficult circumstances the staff of the Centre for Development of South-East Planning worked intensively on each field.

On 13.09.2021 the Minister of Local Self-Government Mr. Goran Milevski to the Director of the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova through the Project “Sustainable Inclusive Balanced Regional Development” handed over the RECOGNITION of the Centre for intensive cooperation with the business community and academia at the regional level in 2020.

The selection was made by ranking the regions in 8 categories. Although the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region has shown excellent results in many categories and areas, it was still decided by the Commission to receive recognition in the Category – Intensive Cooperation with the business community and academia at the regional level in the past year.

The Regional Business Center within the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region in the past 2020 worked intensively and will continue to work with the same intensity and with even greater motivation to encourage the regional business climate and support small and medium enterprises in the region, capacity building companies in the region and will continue to create a climate for the development of sustainable and profitable businesses.

This award is for the work of the employees so far and will serve for even greater motivation in the future and achieving even more visible results for the good of the region.

First press conference held within the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting”

The Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region, within the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” on September 24, 2021, at Hotel Sirius, Strumica held a press conference where representatives of the media from the region were invited. The project team together with the Director of the Centre, Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova, and a representative of the Territorial Firefighting Unit (TPPE), Strumica, presented the activities and expected results to better inform the public what is the purpose of the project and what benefits are expected from it.
Through this project, 112 firefighters from the South-East Planning Region will receive specialized personal protective equipment for forest fires. As a result of the analysis, it is realized that no firefighting unit in this region has suits for firefighters intended for forest fires.

“Our goal and our idea are to be side by side with all European firefighters, to have the complete equipment to be able to respond to disasters. “They are capable, they have all the skills necessary, they are trained, but they need to have the appropriate equipment and be properly dressed to be effective in such situations.” – said the Director of the Centre for Development of the South-East Planning Region, Ms. Gjurkova.

For firefighters, the procurement of new equipment is very important because it will provide much greater efficiency during forest interventions, and at the same time will increase their safety, said Mr. Risto Janakiev – representative of TPPE Strumica, and added that with the equipment they will significantly approach the standards of the European Union.

At the press conference, through a short presentation by the project team, the journalists were informed about the other activities planned within this project, the establishment of a cross-border network for prevention and response to natural and environmental hazards arising from forest fires, organization of six specialized trainings for the representatives of the territorial firefighting units and volunteer associations with internationally certified trainers, promotion and raising of public awareness for encouraging volunteerism in firefighting as well as prevention of forest fires.

The project is scheduled to last 24 months.

Pilot Action “Belasica 2021” on topic fire organized within the project “HELP”

On 3rd and 4th September 2021, a two-day event, Pilot action called “Belasica 2021” was organized within the project “Integrated Operational Center for Provision of Humanitarian Assistance – HELP” which is implemented by the Centre for development of the South-East planning region in partnership with the Crisis Management Center and project partners from Greece.

The demonstration exercise on topic fire, “Belasica 2021” was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Mr. Zoran Dimitrovski, the Manager of the Centre for development of the South-East planning region Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova, the Director of the exercise Mr. Urim Vejseli and a representative from Municipality of Novo Selo Mr. Tushe Stojanov, who in a welcoming speech highlighted the importance of achieving smooth coordination with neighboring Greece in times of natural disasters, introducing modern tools for rapid response and strengthening the capacity to deal with crises at international level.

After a previously created scenario for dealing with natural disasters, in this case a fire on mountain Belasica, on both sides of the border, field activities took place in the area of Gjavolski Most, Sechena Skala, Sharena cesma, Dzvezden Vrv, Tumba, Hunting House and others named high parts of the mountain where representatives of the Crisis Management Center, representatives of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Red Cross, Firefighting Units, Ministry for internal affairs Strumica and NGOs conducted several firefighting activities using the equipment of the mobile unit Command Center – C4I which is located in Strumica.

The purpose of organizing this event was to inform the public regarding the use of the equipment, information system, disaster mapping, gamification platform, developed disaster management plans in accordance with the national protocols available in the Command Center – C4I, test development events for the use of the equipment, to improve the operational and organizational capabilities of the competent institutions, to improve the level of communication and cooperation with Greece in times of disasters as well as to encourage the active participation of citizens and stakeholders in crisis management activities in order to increase their levels of awareness and reaction.

As first of its kind Command Center for crisis management set up in the country, in the future it is expected to use the equipment optimally, facilitate the work of the competent institutions and connect with the Command Center located in the cross-border region in Greece during natural disasters.

With the organization of the two-day event Pilot Action on topic fire “Belasica 2021”, the Centre for development of the South-East planning region is finishing the project activities that are part of the project “Integrated Operational Center for Humanitarian Assistance – HELP” co-financed by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries through the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Greece – R. North Macedonia 2014-2020.

First meeting of the team on the project “Cross-Border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” held in Blagoevgrad, Republic of Bulgaria

In the frame of the project “Cross-border Cooperation in Forest Fire Fighting” funded by the European Union through the Interreg IPA CBC Program between the Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of North Macedonia on 30.08.2021 and 31.08.2021, in Blagoevgrad at the premises of the Lead Partner – Association of Southwestern Municipalities, Republic of Bulgaria, the first meeting of the project team was held.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the project activities, what has been implemented until now and what are the next steps of implementation of each of the partners.

Following the obligations for the Request for First Level Control, the two partners jointly submitted the requests in coordination within the deadline. On the meeting, the team reviewed and discussed the Project Progress Report 2 (PP2), which was submitted to the Beneficiary Portal for the previous project period.
The team also discussed for the maintenance of the first press-conferences within the project, as well as the first workshop for the establishment of a cross-border network for prevention and response in case of natural and environmental hazards. According to the active measures at that time for COVID-19.

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the National Funds of the participating countries through the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program between the Republic of Bulgaria – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020.