European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Association of accommodation providers and Alter Modus, within programme Youth in Business, organized free training entitled “Digital Marketing and registration for young entrepreneurs in tourism industry”.

The training was organized in premises of Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro and it was dedicated to young entrepreneurs up to 35 dealing in renting accommodation, as well as to those at the beginning of their business journey in tourism industry or those inheriting and being ready to take over family business.

The training was held by Anđela Đokić, consultant, tourist company owner and educator, Branka Džoganović, direcotor of Association of accommodation providers and Andrija Brajković, representative of Oblak rješenja (Eng. Cloud solutions) which facilitates process of electronic taxation and registration of guests for over 400 natural persons and legal entities.

The training participants had a unique opportunity to get information about new trends, tools and strategies in digital marketing, but also to develop their skills, exchange business experiences and broaden the network of contacts.

This initiative had great significance for development of young entrepreneurs in tourism industry and showed commitment of the institutions to support new generations of entrepreneurs.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

In November 2022, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in cooperation with Alter Modus, launched the Youth in Business Programme in Montenegro. The Youth in Business Programme provides micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs majority-owned or managed by people under the age of 35 with access to the necessary knowledge, skills, financing and other key resources essential to overcome challenges and reach full potential. Alter Modus was the first and only financial institution in Montenegro which approves loans within the YiB Programme. For development of entrepreneurs among the youth it is of essential importance to give incentive – not only in material sense but through education, mentorship and networking as well. Combining financial and nonfinancial resources young entrepreneurs get opportunity to achieve their business ambitions and contribute to economic development of the community. The financial support for the YiB Programme, in form of funds for technical cooperation, was ensured by Sweden through Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; by Italy through the Central European Initiative and Luxembourg through EBRD fund for impact on small enterprises.

MFI Alter Modus and Secretariat for Competitiveness signed Cooperation Agreement on project ŽIG (Eng. trademark) ”Women’s Business”. Two crucial goals of the project are proper targeting or recognizing women’s businesses whose main feature is not only having ownership function in formal and legal terms, but managerial function in essence, and simplified access to financial and non-financial incentives for women entrepreneurs. This way, state- and privately-owned institutions will have ensured system of identifying women’s businesses upon assignment of both financial and non-financial support to women.

The Chief Executive Officer of Alter Modus, Ana Kentera, said that in collaboration with Secretariat for Competitiveness and BI Communication additional help would be provided to all women in Montenegro willing to start a new business or to enhance the existing one, to get informed of business opportunities and possibilities for financial and non-financial support – which is in accordance with the company’s strategic goals.

Since its beginnings, Alter Modus has offered programmes which support women’s entrepreneurship and due to these programmes share of women in loan portfolio of the company is on average 47%. ”I believe that through the joint collaboration on the project ŽIG ”Women’s Business” we will make favourable conditions for women entrepreneurs and enable them to reach their full potential, for the benefit of entire community. When applying for credit support, our company will not request additional documentation from the commercial entities who are officially beneficiaries of ŽIG ”Women’s Business” nor will we perform any additional check,” Kentera pointed out.

The condition for obtaining the trademark ŽIG ”Women’s Business” is to meet the criteria defined by the international document MEST IWA 34 whose key segments refer to the questions such as if the enterprise is managed by women, if it is owned by women, if they have full control over the enterprise and if the “women’s” enterprise is independent.

On Friday, November 24, 2023, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Micro-credit Financial Institution Alter Modus organized brunch with media and representatives of Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Union of Young Entrepreneurs, associations of entrepreneurs and youth organizations to present Youth in Business Programme and its achievements.

Andreina Marsella, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Montenegro, pointed out that Italy invested in the Programme through the Ministry of Exterior Affairs and Central European Initiative. Empowering the youth in the society, strengthening entrepreneurship and creating new opportunities for young people is, as she said, one of the key European priorities.

Ana Kentera, the Chief Executive Officer of MFI Alter Modus, emphasized that Alter Modus was the first and only financial institution in Montenegro which approves loans within the YiB Programme. “Primarily, I would like to express gratitude to our strategic partner, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for recognizing Alter Modus’ commitment to young entrepreneurs. Through the joint Youth in Business Programme, we have supported 549 business stories with over 1.8 million EUR, by that enabling development and improvement of exceptional business ventures. This kind of support did not only include the financial segment, but education as well, mentorship and networking, where I would point out excellent collaboration with Union of Young Entrepreneurs and company Balance2Business. It is proved that combination of financial and non-financial resources enables young entrepreneurs to realize business ambitions”, Kentera said.

Remon Zakaria, Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Office in Montenegro, stated that the EBRD’s YiB Programme helped small and medium enterprises, majority-owned or managed by young people up to 35, to get access to the necessary knowledge, skills, financing and other key resources essential to overcome challenges and reach their full potential, in the countries of operation. It is anticipated that this EBRD programme will ensure the financial institutions in the region of Western Balkans financing of up to EUR 100 million over the next five years.

“Alter Modus excellently fits the YiB Programme which is promoted by the EBRD in the Western Balkans, and therefore it was a natural choice to be the first institution and the EBRD’s partner for support to young entrepreneurs in Montenegro”, Zakaria emphasized.

More about the Programme for Youth in Business you can find HERE.

Due to partnership programme, Alter Modus and Ramond Furniture Nikšić are able to offer their clients and customers opportunity to refresh their homes with new furniture.
Delivery on territory of Montenegro, payment in instalment, without interest or fee.

If you have decided to purchase new audio/video equipment, household appliances, or if you are seeking for professional catering equipment, you may visit stores of Tehnomax throughout Montenegro and take advantage of shopping in instalments without interest or fee, in collaboration with Alter Modus!