SIEPA announces public call for investment grant applications - Deadline for applications set at 27 January 2012

The Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) and the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development announced Friday (23 December 2011) a public call for applications for grants to interested companies for direct investments.

The period for the submission of applications runs from Friday (23 December 2011) and ends on 27 January 2012.

Grants will be allotted on the basis of the Regulation on Conditions and Manner of Attracting Direct Investment.

For an investment of minimum EUR 1 million in the production and the employment of minimum 50 workers, potential manufacturers can count on a grant ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 euros per each newly employed worker.

For an investment in devastated areas and areas of special interest, amounting to minimum EUR 500,000, and the creation of minimum 50 new jobs, the amount of grants ranges between 5,000 and 10,000 euros for each newly created job.

The companies eligible for these grants are also those intending to invest in the service sector under the following conditions: the services in question must be the subject of international trade, the investment must amount to minimum EUR 500,000, and the investor must create at least 10 new jobs.

In that case, grants range between 2,000 and 10,000 per newly employed worker.

Investors in strategic projects in tourism can also apply for these grants, and the value of investment in that case must amount to minimum EUR 5 million and result in the creation of at least 50 new jobs. Grants for such investments are the same as in the previous case, ranging between 2,000 and 10,000 euros.

This call is also open to companies working on investment projects, so that SIEPA will provide up to 20% of the required investment for those projects whose value exceeds EUR 50 million, resulting in the creation of 300 new jobs.

All submitted applications will be opened on February 8th, 2012.