A meeting took place in BSMEPA between Dr. Boyko Takov, Executive Director and HE Mr. Massato Watanabe, Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria, Mr. Hidea Kobayashi, Coordinator of the JICA project for the Western Balkans and Ms. Aoi Yamagishi, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria.

The aim of the meeting was to examine the results of the JICA program, successfully implemented in Serbia. Mr. Kobayashi briefly outlined the activities of JICA, whose main objective is to promote international co-operation as well as the steady development of the Japanese and global business opportunities. He briefed Dr. Takov on the project "Creating and Promoting Mentoring Services for SMEs", which was launched jointly with the RAC and JICA, and related to the closure of a standardized mentoring service cycle in Serbia and the continuation the transfer of Serbian experts in mentoring in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia with the support of Japanese experts. Between November 20 and 21, 2018, a coordination meeting was held on the project in Belgrade where BSMEPA was invited by the Japanese to participate as an institution with significant experience in the field of SMEs.

Ambassador Watanabe thanked Dr. Takov for the participation of BSMEPA in the JICA project. He also highlighted Japan's 70-year tradition of consulting and mentoring small and medium-sized businesses in the country, and in this respect the Japanese side's readiness to continue the project for introducing the Japanese mentoring model for SMEs in the Western Balkan countries as well as the opportunities for the transfer of good practices from and to Bulgaria.

Consideration was given to the opportunities for intensifying the partnership relations between organizations that encourage enterprises in the Western Balkan countries through the participation of BSMEPA and on the basis of the JICA project.

The Executive Director of BSMEPA has suggested that the Agency initiate a forum of partner organizations from these countries, with the main focus being the exchange of experience exchange of information and good practices in supporting small and medium enterprises in the region.

The Japanese side, in the person of Ambassador Watanabe and Mr. Kobayashi, welcomed Dr. Takov's proposal and expressed readiness to assist in the organization of the event.

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