ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTHWEST 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 ru¬ral areas of the Southwest Planning Region in the Republic of Macedonia. In that view interviewing was conducted with 14 owners of SMEs in rural areas who were presented four sets of statements that are important for understand¬ing of the situation with entrepreneurship in the rural areas of the Southwest Planning Region in the Republic of Macedonia valued at five-degree scale from irrelevant to that of priority. One of the conclusions, by which the state of entrepreneurship and SMEs in the rural areas of the Southwest Planning Region of 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 affirmative attitudes towards entrepreneurship compared to the views regarding entrepreneurship from rural respond¬ents on the whole territory of the Republic Of Macedonia. Развојни преоритети на регионот во наредниов период се: 1) Economic development achieved through high-quality human capital knowledge and skills, developed small and medium-sized enterprises, and regional products recognizable by their geographic origin. 2) Region with a well developed and modern road network, sustainable water resources management, developed educational and ITC infra-structure. 3) Agricultural business based on modern concepts for producing recognizable regional agricultural pro¬duce and sustainable rural development based on modern knowledge and technology. 4) Attractive tourist destination with rich, varied and integrated tourist offer, based on sustainable use and protection of the cultural and natural herit¬age. 5) Environmentally clean area, with protected water, air and soil, and integrated waste management system and sustainable use of renewable energies. 6) Developed social infrastructure, with a network of efficient services for a dignified life and a decent standard of living.
Keywords: Southwest planning region in the Republic of Macedonia; rural entrepreneurship, rural entrepreneurs; SMEs, rural areas
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