The media event, held in the Mosaic Hall of the City of Krusevac, was hosted by Jasmina Palurovic, Mayor of Krusevac. In her opening remarks she emphasized the significance of Swiss support, not only to the city itself though three ongoing projects , but also to the citizens of Cicevac, Varvarin, Trstenik, Brus and Aleksandrovac and the region as a whole: “ The citizens of our district have the opportunity to be informed about the results achieved so far, as well as about future activities of the Swiss donor support”.
Ursula Läubli, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Serbia, noted that Switzerland is dedicated to further strengthening the long-standing and successful cooperation with the Rasina district, as part of the new strategic framework 2018-2021. “Krusevac is among the cities on which we are specifically focused. We have been present in this region for many years and we have a good cooperation,” she said, stressing that future support will be focused primarily on economic development, youth employment and energy efficiency. “We have always been welcomed here as partners and friends. Therefore, I want to emphasize that Switzerland will continue to be a reliable partner to the citizens of Krusevac”, director Läubli pointed out.
During her presentation of the eight projects implemented in the region, Mrs. Läubli stressed that the support to the reforms and modernization of the Serbian society is the main goal of Swiss cooperation: “We are especially active in less developed regions, because we want that all Serbian citizens have better perspectives for their life and work.”
On behalf of Youth Council Krusevac, Milena Virijevic presented the program From Education to Employment (E2E), as one of the most successful programs in the field of youth employment, with elements of dual education and social inclusion.
Prior to the media event the Swiss delegation visited Silicon Commerce, a local rubber company which has successfully participated in the E2E program as well as the kindergarten “Pcelica” (i.e. little bee), as one of seven public facilities which will be reconstructed in Kruševac within the Municipal Energy Efficiency and Management Project.
Swiss cooperation with the Rasina district is focused on youth employment, private sector development and entrepreneurship, energy efficiency, governance, public finance reform, social inclusion and reintegration of Roma into the local community. Until now, Switzerland has supported this region with 2,2 million EUR.
