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Beyond Borders scales up across the Western Balkans

The programme will strengthen the international readiness of IT and BPO firms

February 28, 2026

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February 28, 2026

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4 min read

Berlin/London February 28, 2026 – Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE), in partnership with Reinvantage, has launched Beyond Borders: Western Balkans Scale-up 2026–27, a regional programme designed to strengthen the international competitiveness of IT and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies across the Western Balkans. With funding from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) AWE is implemented by two strong partners: GIZ and DEG Impulse.

Building on a successful pilot phase, the scale-up responds to a persistent gap observed across the region: while many companies demonstrate strong technical capability, they are often less prepared for the commercial, operational, and procedural expectations of international buyers. Beyond Borders addresses this gap by focusing on delivery maturity, documentation discipline, procurement readiness, and clear commercial communication—factors that increasingly determine trust and long-term partnerships in global markets.

The programme is structured around three complementary pillars. 

The first focuses on international expansion readiness, supporting companies through practical training on buyer expectations, procurement processes, communication standards, and cultural fluency, with a particular emphasis on German and European markets. 

The second pillar strengthens technical capability, equipping software professionals with industry-aligned practices in clean architecture, testing, quality assurance, DevOps, secure development, and documentation. 

The third pillar advances a joint regional narrative and international positioning, moving beyond fragmented country-level promotion toward a coherent Western Balkans story supported by strategic content, vendor showcases, and coordinated media outreach.

“Beyond Borders was designed to address a very practical challenge,” said Andrew Wrobel, Chief Reinvention Officer at Reinvantage. “International buyers are not only looking for talent. They are looking for predictability, clarity, and low delivery risk. This programme helps companies translate their strengths into signals that international clients recognise and trust.”

The scale-up reflects AWE’s broader commitment to strengthening private-sector capability, regional cooperation, and sustainable economic integration in the Western Balkans.

“The Western Balkan countries are the ideal service location for companies seeking to benefit from stable trade relations, a skilled workforce, and proximity to the European Union! AWE supports local companies to enter international markets with quality services and market readiness for long-term competitiveness,” says Almuth Dörre, Western Balkan manager at AWE. 

In addition to company- and individual-level capacity building, the programme introduces a regional vendor gallery and shared communication assets, enabling international buyers to engage with verified, procurement-ready providers from across the Western Balkans. This approach ensures that training translates into concrete market opportunity, helping the region move from visibility to credibility.

The Beyond Borders: Western Balkans Scale-up will run from 2026 to 2027, working with companies, professionals, and ecosystem partners across the region to strengthen long-term international competitiveness and future readiness.

Companies interested to join the programme are requested to express their interest through the Reinvantage website here.

About Beyond Borders

Beyond Borders is a capacity-building and market-readiness programme designed to help IT and BPO companies understand how international buyers think, decide, and procure. It combines practical training, technical upskilling, and strategic positioning to support sustainable international growth.

About the Agency for Business and Economic Development

The Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE) is the central point of contact for the German and European business community interested in engaging with development cooperation. Together with its Business and Development Network Partners in Transformation the Agency specifically promotes partnerships in partner regions including Western Balkans. With its international experts, AWE offers advisory services on funding, financing and project development and establishes contacts worldwide. With funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) AWE is implemented by two strong partners: GIZ GmbH and DEG Impulse gGmbH.

About the GIZ

GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) is the German federal enterprise for international cooperation. GIZ supports the German Government and partner institutions in achieving their objectives in international development, economic cooperation, and sustainable growth. Its work spans economic development, employment, governance, climate action, and skills, supporting partner countries in shaping sustainable and inclusive development pathways.

About Reinvantage

Reinvantage is a strategic reinvention firm focused on future relevance and preparedness in the face of changing economic and technological conditions. The firm works  at the intersection of strategy, foresight, capacity-building, and positioning, helping organisations understand where their current models will hold, where they won’t, and what needs to change next. Reinvantage’s work spans start-ups, scale-ups, corporates, and public-sector organisations, typically around questions of market intelligence, positioning, capability-building, talent, and long-term competitiveness.

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