500 jobless people will be able to become employed by opening their own companies with grants provided by the Self-Employment Programme.

They were presented Wednesday with certificates for attending trainings and a programme allowing them to receive funds through the Employment Agency of Macedonia.

“All those who have been out of work will register their start-up companies, their small businesses in due time and will receive grants worth MKD 201,000 (roughly EUR 3,265) in order to procure equipment and raw materials. Also, they can be exempted from paying contributions up to five years as foreseen by the government-run employment project,” Minister of Labour and Social Policy Dime Spasov said after presenting the certificates.

This is a significant state support for the establishment and development of small companies intended to stimulate Macedonia’s economic development, according to him.

6,775 private companies were founded since introducing the 2007-2014 Self-Employment Programme.

The second part of the Self-Employment Programme is set to be completed in early October envisaging another 460 people to find employment by the end of 2015, announced Minister Spasov.

Certificates were presented today to people from various professions, including dentists, cosmeticians, tinsmiths, car mechanics, electricians, construction workers, etc.