An information day was held in Strumica to familiarize the public with measures from the Operational Plan for Employment. The event gathered citizens, chamber of commerce representatives, youth associations, members of parliament, and local self-government representatives from the Strumica region.

Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor, Marjan Risteski, encouraged interested individuals to apply for the three public calls under the Self-Employment (Entrepreneurship) Support measure, which provides substantial financial assistance. This year’s initiatives prioritize support for young people.

Risteski stated that the Government supports young people through a historically large Operational Plan budget exceeding 40 million euros, an increase of 7.5 million euros. The plan aims to help young people start businesses or gain skills through internships and training to enhance their employability and competitiveness. He emphasized the government’s commitment to retaining young people in the country, noting that the Operational Plan allocates at least 40% of funds to young people across various measures, in addition to new measures specifically designed for them.

Vesna Peshova, Deputy Director of the Employment Agency, discussed application procedures for the Operational Plan’s measures and encouraged applications at the 30 Employment Centers nationwide. She reported significant interest in the self-employment (entrepreneurship) measure, with approximately 1400 applications received in the first two days.

Daniela Dimovska, Director for Entrepreneurship Support, detailed the support offered to those receiving funds, including professional advice on business plan creation, entrepreneurship training, and mentoring.

The public calls are open until June 20, with future announcements planned for other measures within the Operational Plan.