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Macedonian Table Grape Companies Learn from Their
South African Colleagues
- the Fourth Largest Exporters of Table Grapes in
the World
 On
March 27, 2008, the USAID’s AgBiz Program
unveiled its Agribusiness Finance Manual that
outlines a range of alternative sources of
financing and investment for Macedonian
agribusinesses. With this Manual, USAID is
helping Macedonian agribusinesses to become more
competitive by improving their access to viable
sources of finance. Thirty representatives from
25 companies that are current or potential AgBiz
customers participated at the workshop. Ten
excellent speakers discussed how Macedonian
agribusiness companies can improve their access
to finance and their financing costs. The Manual
was provided to participating company
representatives in either hard copy of CD
format, the later having hot links to the
website of many sources of agribusiness
financing.
 The
purpose of the Manual is to simplify
agribusiness firms’ access to finance by
providing a clear explanation of the range of
financing products and services available in
Macedonia. It is intended to better educate
business owners on the types of financing most
appropriate for their businesses, the
expectations and perspective of lending
institutions, and how to improve the chances of
receiving financing on the best terms and
conditions. Effective and efficient access to
finance helps companies obtain the funds they
need to become more competitive, grow their
business and create jobs.
“The great benefit of the Manual is that it
serves as a one-stop resource that describes the
full range of available agribusiness financing,”
says AgBiz Chief of Party James Maxwell. “The
first section introduces institutions that
provide financial products and describes these
products, and the second presents alternative
forms of finance important for agribusinesses.”
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