1) Information
2) Promotional events
3) Training
4) Advisory services
5) Mentoring
6) Field control

1) information
a) Providing information to MSMEs This includes information related to: starting a business, business development, available support programs, domestic and foreign sources of financing, legal regulations and obligations relevant to business operations, as well as other information important for MSME development. Information is provided in person, by phone, email, social media, press releases, TV appearances, info sheets, leaflets, brochures, etc.
b) Collecting information ARRA is obliged, upon request of the Ministry or RAS, to provide requested individual or aggregated data on MSMEs, for the purpose of monitoring MSMEs in the territory covered by ARRA.

2) Promotional Events
ARRA organizes and participates in promotional activities related to entrepreneurship and various MSME support programs. These activities include workshops, info days, or other public events promoting entrepreneurship-related topics.

3) Training
Trainings provided by ARRA for MSMEs include mandatory and optional modules.
Mandatory modules (two days):
Training for business beginners
Training for candidates selected in the first round of the Financial Support Program for the top 35 business ideas of young people under 35
Optional modules (one day):
Business plan preparation, banking relations, and investment readiness
Financial management
Export – for first-time exporters
Marketing and sales
E-business and IT in business
Overview of quality standards and environmental protection relevant to business
Innovation
Training for women entrepreneurs
All trainings are delivered by ARRA staff trained under methodologies approved by the Ministry.

4) Advisory Services

Advisory services include guidance, assistance, and support for starting and developing businesses, as well as administrative and technical support in preparing documentation and applications for entrepreneurship support programs implemented by the Ministry and/or other institutions.

Examples include:

Preparing applications and checking documentation for Ministry/RAS programs (up to 3 hours)

Preparing applications, business plans, and online submissions for Ministry/Fund programs (up to 6 hours)

Preparing applications and documentation for Fund loans and Guarantee Fund credit lines (up to 5 hours)

Preparing applications for self-employment subsidies at the National Employment Service (up to 2 hours)

Support in planning and starting a business (up to 2 hours)

Support in business development and networking (up to 2 hours)

5) Mentoring
Mentoring is professional support provided over a longer period by a certified mentor. Depending on the needs of the enterprise, mentors may allocate 25–50 hours per enterprise during the program.
Eligible beneficiaries are MSMEs operating up to three years or those at a critical stage of development or survival. Mentoring is provided by ARRA staff certified through training organized by the National Agency for Regional Development, RAS, or the “Strengthening and Further Establishment of Mentoring Services for SMEs in the Western Balkans” project (RAS–JICA), funded by the Government of Japan.

6) Field Control

Field control activities verify the factual situation of applicants for grants before approval, and later ensure proper use of funds.

They are carried out under programs implemented by the Ministry alone or in cooperation with RAS and the Fund, including:

Equipment support programs (2022–2024)

Financial support programs for business beginners and youth (2022–2024)

Entrepreneurship development projects (2022–2023)

Financial support programs for women entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, and single mothers (2022–2024)

Development opportunities for the processing industry (2024)

Support for processing capacities in hunting, fisheries, wine, beer, and spirits production (2024)

Support for rural women’s entrepreneurship (2024)

Other programs requiring preliminary or subsequent field control.
ARRA conducts preliminary field control based on instructions from RAS and the Fund.

The list of Accredited Regional Development Agencies can be found HERE.