Enterprise Development

From the very outset of their cooperation the CEI Member States have paid particular attention to the development of SMEs and entrepreneurship because they have a crucial role both in the privatisation process and in the creation of favourable employment conditions.

• Access to Finance where the CEI wishes to act as a platform supporting Member States in improving SME access to finance and particularly support the effectiveness and diffusion of micro-credit and micro-finance schemes that play an important role in developing countries.  
• Innovation for Competitiveness where the CEI intends to boost the entrepreneurial initiative by supporting actions and instruments aimed at improving technological and organisational innovation of the enterprise.

The CEI supports projects and activities in this area through various funds and instruments:

• Cooperation Fund for small scale multilateral projects i.e. seminars, workshops, training courses  
• Know-How Exchange Programme for projects related to capacity building and transfer of good practice to the non –EU CEI Member States
• CEI Trust Fund at the EBRD for technical assistance