Development Association NERDA is a non-governmental organization acting as the regional development agency for North-East BiH, responsible for strengthening, coordination and promotion of economic development. Activities are directed towards building a strong region through mobilization of internal as well as external resources with the aim to improve living standard and competitiveness of the regional economy, in the country as well as in the Western Balkans. NERDA was registered in May 2004 and became operational in 2005 and has the main office in Tuzla and three sub-regional offices in Bijeljina, Zvornik and Orasje. NERDA has 14 full-time professionals with substantial experience in regional economic development, project management, financial management, reporting and project implementation by international standards.
Over the past 6 years NERDA has implemented six major projects and a number of small-scale projects in the North-East BiH and in Herzegovina Region.
In terms of NERDA’s support to SMEs, one of major instruments of support is NERDA’s Guarantee Fund for SMEs. NERDA manages and administers the Fund since 2008. The investors in the Fund are local governments, and the Fund now has the portfolio of ca. 2.5 mil EUR. So far over 70 companies were clients of the Fund to which ca. 1 mil EUR of loans were disbursed.
Apart from activities aimed at support to SME’s and business development, NERDA has closely cooperated and worked with NE BIH Municipalities in regards to their capacity building, especially in Project Cycle Management (PCM) and strategic planning.