This policy paper was prepared by the OECD South East Europe Regional Programme of the OECD Global Relations and Co-operation Directorate (GRC), as part of the Digital and Green SMEs project.
The paper was prepared under the guidance of Marzena Kisielewska, Head of the OECD South East Europe Division.
The survey was designed and undertaken by Hana Aljević, Dafina Marashi, Marijana Petrović (all from the OECD South East Europe Division) and Vukan Jokić (formerly OECD South East Europe Division), with support from Marta Lasheras Sancho (OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Division). Cameron Gethings (OECD South East Europe Division) led the work on data collection and data analysis. The paper’s preparation was led by Umur Gökçe and Stephanie Lizzo (OECD South East Europe Division), with substantial inputs by Nemanja Sormaz. The report has benefited from the comments and inputs of Grégory Lecomte, Celeste Laporte Talamon and Daniel Poloyko (all from the OECD Eurasia Division). The team is also grateful to Gabriela Miranda (formerly OECD South East Europe Division) for her inputs to the survey’s development and dissemination, as well as to Meral Gedik for preparation of the report.
The paper benefited from discussions held during a series of capacity building study visits and regional policy dialogues organised as part of the Digital and Green SMEs project. The OECD is grateful to the government, private sector and civil society representatives across the Western Balkans who contributed valuable insights and practical perspectives during these events. The authors specifically extend thanks to the chambers of commerce of the six Western Balkan economies for their contributions at these events and for their support in disseminating the survey among firms.
The authors would also like to express their sincere appreciation to the project partners for their engagement throughout the preparation of this report. In particular, they wish to thank colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia—Zdenko Lucić, Irena Alajbeg, Matea Prlić, Sašenjka Konjevod, Marko Golemac, and Barbara Majer—for their valuable support and collaboration.
This document was produced with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the Government of Croatia.