Representatives of several cities and municipalities thus started cooperating on implementation of projects aiming to create conditions for faster employment of young people. On behalf of the City of Novi Sad Mayor Igor Pavličić signed the Agreement of Understanding, which was also signed by the representatives of Apatin, Šabac, Osečina, Velika Plana and Topola.

"It is my pleasure to have signed the Agreement with USAID, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and representatives of local self-governments throughout the country. Our goal is to encourage employment and self-employment in the young population of citizens, whose biggest problem is to find a job after they have completed their studies. This is a way of changing the situation and a systematic approach to solving the problem, so that every young person could get a chance. It is important to educate young people so that after graduation they have the ability and capacities to find a job themselves." – said Igor Pavličić, Mayor of Novi Sad.

"USAID and Ministry of Youth and Sports together with these municipalities are dedicated to decreasing the unemployment of young people, which is the biggest problem that young people in Serbia are facing today." – said Susan Fritz, USAID Mission Director.

Research has shown than more than 30% of young people in Serbia are interested in entrepreneurship, which is one of the main components of the USAID Program.

"Development of youth entrepreneurship is one of objectives of the National Youth Strategy and therefore, in partnership with USAID, all over Serbia we are implementing this project." – said Ivana Kovačević, State Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Following the Agreement signature, USAID and local self-governments will cooperate on three levels. The USAID Economic Security Program will organize trainings for coordinators of youth offices, to enable them to more efficiently carry out the programs for youth employment. USAID will then work directly with young entrepreneurs from the cities and municipalities, in order to help them realize their business plans. Finally, the selected municipalities will be assisted in approaching the unemployment problem strategically, through development and implementation of action plans for youth entrepreneurship.

Novi Sad, November 23^rd, 2011