ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS TOOL FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PELAGONIA PLANNING REGION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Tošo Kostadinov
Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje, Institute of Animal Science, Blvd. Ilinden, 92A; P.O. box. 207, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia,
tosokostadinov@gmail.com
The aim of this paper is to incorporate new findings in the body of knowledge regarding entrepreneurship in rural areas of the Southeast Region in the Republic of Macedonia. In that view interviewing was conducted with 15 owners of SMEs in rural areas who were presented four sets of statements that are important for understanding of the situation with entrepreneurship in rural areas of the Pelagonia Planning Region in the Republic of Macedonia, valued at a five-degree scale from irrelevant to that of priority. One of the conclusions, by which the state of entrepreneurship and SMEs in rural areas of the Pelagonia Planning Region in the Republic of Macedonia is assessed – based on empirical research and compared with the results of an identical research on rural entrepreneurship on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia – is that the rural entrepreneur from that region of the country has more positive attitudes regarding entrepreneurship than the attitudes in rural areas of Macedonia. Most important development priorities of the region in the coming period should be: 1) Improving the connection between the municipalities in the region, as well as between the region and other countries, by planning and constructing a modern infrastructure. 2) Improving the environment by reducing pollution, removing the consequences of pollution and increasing energy efficiency. 3) Raised life quality and improved social cohesion in the region, through continuous investment in human resources. 4) Local economic development in the Pelagonia Region.
Keywords: Pelagonia planning region in the Republic of Macedonia; rural entrepreneurship; rural entrepreneurs; SMEs; rural area
|
