In order to ensure that the Hungarian – Romanian cross-border regions of Békés County and Bihor County are a business-friendly environment, an ERDF-funded project was launched in 2012 to strengthen cross-border cooperation between partner institutions in the field of economics and entrepreneurship.
- 06 October 2015
We are sure that all the investments and activities made through this project will make a valuable contribution to the formation of good entrepreneurs in an improved cross – border environment.
An open and competitive business environment - a crucial catalyst for regional growth - cannot be fostered without the existence of high quality infrastructure that ranges from energy and broadband to business centres and specialist IT equipment.
The ERDF-funded project, entitled ‘Cross-border Access for Business Support (CBABS)’, brought together key business stakeholders on both sides of the border to share best practice and put in place infrastructure that will benefit local entrepreneurs for years to come.
Regional business skills
The project began with the four CBABS project partners - Don Orione Charity Society (Lead Partner), Békés County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Local Council of Small and Medium Size Enterprises from Oradea and Don Orione High School - sharing their experiences and ideas about how best to ensure a competitive business environment at the local and regional level.
From this, growth prospects for SMEs have been improved with the construction of a business incubator and training centre for young graduates in Oradea, Romania, and a business centre, in Békéscsaba, Hungary. Both of these facilities, equipped with modern furniture and IT equipment, are now open and functional, enabling entrepreneurs of all types to access business support services and training free of charge.
As a result, the management potential of businesses operating in the area, particularly those operated by young adults with limited knowledge about how to start and run a business, has been significantly stimulated.
Cross-border cooperation
Another key aim of the project has been to foster and reinforce cross-border business connections. To this end, partners organised business conferences and meetings for more than 350 participants, who were then able to share knowledge about the cross-border business environment.
Hungarian Partners also took part in three business exhibitions organised on the Romanian side of the border, which ensured the participation of 10 Hungarian entrepreneurs at each event.
Future generations
The key targeted beneficiaries throughout this project have been current and future entrepreneurs, though it is expected that the initiative will have a positive impact on local communities as a whole. Indeed it is hoped that following generations will benefit from an efficient business infrastructure that supports the sustainable development of business in the Hungarian - Romanian cross-border region.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Cross-border access for business support” is EUR 696 222, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 591 789 from the Operational Programme “Hungary-Romania” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.