Skopje: Innovations in Serbia's development assistance presented

Innovations from Serbia assisting North Macedonia and Albania to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic were presented in the United Nations building in Skopje today.

The implementation of these solutions was supported by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, through the official development assistance provided to the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania within the Open Balkan initiative, with the aim of contributing to faster recovery of these two countries from the crisis.

A total of six innovative solutions were selected through the Challenge launched by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) last year. The aim of this public call was to enable innovators from Serbia to transfer their knowledge and expertise in response to Covid-19 to the partner companies and organisations in North Macedonia and Albania.

In her address, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Skopje Nevena Jovanović said that the support provided by Serbian companies to the partner companies from North Macedonia and Albania within this initiative was an excellent example of how the ideas, on which the Open Balkan initiative was based, were put into practice in a very short period of time. "Apart from improving regional cooperation, this initiative opens the door for the companies from the countries participating in the Open Balkan initiative to further establish direct connections," added Ambassador Jovanović.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in North Macedonia Sanja Bojanić said that the UNDP was supporting joint response of the Western Balkan countries to the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the aim of helping them adequately respond to current challenges and build resilience to this and future crises.

"The Covid-19 pandemic reminded us of the importance of regional cooperation, such as the Open Balkan initiative, for an efficient response to such crises. Within this initiative and through the official development assistance, the Republic of Serbia provided nearly 200,000 dollars to support the faster recovery of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania from the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. Based on these funds, the innovators from Serbia have transferred their knowledge and expertise to the partners in North Macedonia and Albania", said Assistant Secretary General of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Danijel Nikolić.

Nola Ismajloska, a representative of the Open Balkan initiative, pointed out that the region had shown that it could launch new activities contributing to greater economic integration, which was good for the economies and citizens of the countries involved, as well as for attracting foreign investors. Ismajloska mentioned that she was looking forward to the joining of the new members in the initiative and expanding cooperation, with the support of the UNDP, in other areas as well, such as culture, tourism and education.

Four Serbian companies assisted the partner companies in North Macedonia in the development of an algorithm for a more accurate interpretation of Covid-19 antibody test results, a web and mobile application for remote access to health services, a free digital distance learning tool, and a digital solution for more efficient small and medium enterprise management in the industry field.

Two Serbian companies have enabled their Albanian partners to introduce a rapid antigen test for coronavirus detection in the early stages of infection also in asymptomatic patients, as well as to develop a digital platform for impact assessment of new investment projects on the environment and society.