The Swiss Import Promotion Program - SIPPO is supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) within the framework of its economic development cooperation.

The Program is implemented by Swisscontact – a Swiss foundation for international cooperation and development focused on cooperation with business support organizations providing export services, such as export promotion organizations, clusters and sector-wide associations, to support the expansion and quality of their export promotion services to their members and clients.

SIPPO contributes to the improvement of safety with regard to jobs, the creation of new jobs, and the overall economic growth in Serbia.

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Swisscontact, the Development Agency of Serbia has the role of a strategic partner in this Program, and the implementation includes the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Fashion Apparel Cluster of Serbia - FACTS. Memorandum of Understanding was signed for the period of 3 years (January 2018 – December 2020).

The program provides support and enables export to new markets for companies and organizations active in the following sectors:

• Natural ingredients (medicinal herbs, spices, essential oils, mushrooms, etc.),

• Technical wood (semi-finished products and final products), 

• Value-added textiles.

The overall Program Objective is to contribute to the economic growth of the country by fostering and creating new jobs opportunities through export promotion.

The Development Agency of Serbia has developed a special programme for co-financing through a refunding process for export promotion activities. SMEEs – beneficiaries selected within the Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO) are eligible for co-financing of the following project activities:

1) A study tour for the purpose of a research of the target trade fair;

2) Participation at international trade fairs abroad, and

3) Introducing new business models (costs of hiring experts for the purpose of improving presentation at the fair).

Available funds are approved individually to beneficiaries, as co-financing of up to 50% of the total eligible costs excluding VAT, as a reimbursement.