CREATIVE BUSINESSES PROJECT
Start date: December 10, 2010
End date: December 10, 2013
Project budget (Life of Project): $264,580
Implementer: Macedonian Artisan Trade Association (MATA)
Objectives
Foster the development of the creative industries sector in Macedonia, creating opportunities for long-term employment and increased income for creative micro and small enterprises through the following:
1. Strengthen the "Creative Industries Center (CIC) - Skopje" to extend its business support services to companies;
2. Generate productive employment by working with unemployed, youth and women to start their own creative businesses; and
3. Improve the business performance of micro and small enterprises in the creative industries sector to respond successfully to market demands.
Components
The Project will provide comprehensive legal, technical and initial financial assistance to unemployed youth and women to help them establish fully operational and functional businesses in the creative industries sector. The Business Training Program (BTP) for start - up businesses will be based on the Competency-based Economies through Formation of Enterprise (CEFE) methodology and is designed to overcome constraints related to the establishment of new businesses. Technical assistance to micro and small creative businesses will consist of five basic components:
1) Product Development
2) Marketing Readiness Training
3) Designer Mentoring Program
4) Computer Laboratory and Design & Resource Library
5) Marketing and Sales
Expected Results/Impact
- 30 new creative micro & small business will be established.
- 60 new jobs will be created in Macedonia's Creative Industries Sector.
- More than 40 home and fashion product collections will be designed and developed by 30 local home-fashion and fashion designers.
- 30 new product portfolios will be created and 160 - 200 new products will be developed.
- 10-20 creative micro businesses will increase their income by 12 to 25%.
Contact Information
Contact at USAID: Vesna Stevkovska, AOTR, e-mail: vstevkovska@usaid.gov
Project Manager: Zoran Todorovski, e-mail: zoran.t@matacraft.org.mk
Information Officer: Suada Statovci, e-mail: suada.s@matacraft.org
Website: www.matacraft.org.mk