Washington, DC — November 3, 2006 — A delegation of business people and IRD economic development specialists from Serbia visited the United States over the past two weeks to promote IRD's USAID-funded development project in western Serbia, essential to local economic development. Their visit included attending the Serbian Unity Congress business conference and exhibition, held in Chicago last week, as well as meeting with members of Congress, their staffs and other U.S. government officials. The visit ended with a reception held in their honor at the Serbian embassy in Washington, D.C.

The delegation includes:

• - Zoran Micovic, Mayor of the Arilje municipality in western Serbia;
• - Sava Maric, Financial Director of the Zlatiborac Company;
• - Zorica Skakun, community mobilization and development program manager for IRD's ethno networks project; and,
• - Slavenko Djokic, Deputy Chief of Party for IRD in Serbia.
• "The value of the projects in the community cannot be underestimated," said Mayor Micovic. "Many businesses in Arilje and across Serbia are still working to develop the management tools and production capacity of their competitors worldwide, and the technical assistance and financial capital IRD helps provide is essential."
• Since 2001, IRD has implemented the USAID-funded Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program. The CRDA program has two purposes: one, to promote citizen participation in community life for economic and social revitalization; and two, to facilitate economic development at the municipal and enterprise level.
• "The cooperatives I work with are still developing," said Skakun, who helps women's craft cooperatives increase product quality and expand their market access. "Through this trip and others, I hope to help get these women started on the path towards financial independence."