Regional Development Agency Banat has along with its partners worked hard to prepare development strategy for the next five years. We are determined to meet the challenges our region is facing. We have, together with our stakeholders, prepared a strategy setting out the main development directions and interventions up to 2013. We do believe that by investing in people, developing a strong and vibrant economy, building modern infrastructure and making rural areas sustainable, we can make Banat an even more attractive region to live, work and visit.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE
Developing Human Resources as first priority out of four relates in particular to strengthening and investing in people. Competitiveness of the region depends on their quality and abilities. It means investing in people to acquire new knowledge and skills; promotion of the principle of life-long learning in order to improve the quality of labour; make it possible to participate in society, and guaranteeing the right to a decent job and access to high-quality education and training to everyone.

HELPING BUSINESSES
Increasing Business Competitiveness foresees and has an objective to promote economic changes, by strengthening the role of SMEs and entrepreneurs in regional economic development. The SME sector contributes to a competitive economy, creates jobs and brings diversification to the local economy. The priority is concentrated on the interventions dealing with strengthening the capacity, cooperation and competitiveness of Banat SMEs, increasing development and delivery of quality consulting and information services for companies, as well as optimizing region's potentials for the benefit of business development.

IMPROVING PLACES
Improving Infrastructure as our third priority axis, is focused on creating the prerequisites for economic and social development. The main challenges in Banat are the need to improve and modernise much of the infrastructure. In order to increase regional competitiveness and improve citizens'standard of living, these are the obstacles to overcome by providing investment in transport, utilities, commercial, social and recreational infrastructure.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
Supporting Community Led Development is primarily focused on creating high-quality networks to link urban and rural communities. This will encourage young people to return to rural areas. The initiative will help to create new jobs and harness the potential in these communities, as well support the regeneration and revitalisation of the under-developed places. This priority is focused on regional development, in order to reduce inequalities throughout the region.

These priorities will be reinforced by integrating two horizontal themes covering environment protection and social inclusion. It is of crucial importance that these themes be integrated in all the priorities in order to contribute to the promotion of the principle of sustainable development.