Strpce Fair brings together entrepreneurs from Kosovo, Albania, and FYROM
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On September 18th 2014, the Business Startup Centre (BSC) Strpce/Shterpce hosted the 4th Regional Entrepreneurship Fair where over 600 participants gathered to work towards strengthening partnerships between entrepreneurs and the business community. There were 65 businesses from 13 municipalities* of Kosovo exhibiting their products and services at the fair. It was also the first time the fair had exhibitors representing Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The Regional Entrepreneurship Fair in Kosovo aims to create favorable conditions for private sector growth with the goal of generating a positive impact on communities in the region. The fair bettered conditions by offering entrepreneurs opportunities to promote their products or services and by creating an atmosphere which encourages communication between entrepreneurs and potential partners.
The exhibitors included businesses from a wide range of sectors such as: food processing, agriculture, tourism, and the wood processing and the light industries. Beneficiaries of the SPARK MFS II project, microfinance institutions and bank representatives in Kosovo also participated in the fair.
The day opened with an introductory speech by Mr. Nenad Janicevic, Project Manager from BSC Strpce/Shterpce, followed by speeches from Miss Lisa Zikenopasser, representative of the Netherland’s Embassy in Kosovo, Mr. Dragan Tomic, SPARK Programme Manager and Mr. Emrullah Spahiu, a SWG representative. The opening ceremony concluded with a welcome speech by Mr. Rodoljub Mladenovic, the municple Director of the Economic Development Department in Strpce.
All the speakers emphasized the importance of regional fairs as a vehicle for enabling cooperation among businesses and increasing information flow. Fairs were also recognised for offering financing opportunities and having the potential to attract donors and investors.
BSC Strpce/Shterpce and D&G Solutions are organizing a new session of trainings starting from October. There is also an upcoming Business Plan Competition in November 2014 open to all participants of the Business Support Center.
The fair was supported by SPARK MFS II Programme, Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG), Area Based Development Programme (ABD) and the European Union.
* Dragash/Dragas, Novo Brdo/Novo Berde, Partes/Partesh, Gnjilane/Gjilan, Kamenica/Kamenice, Strpce/Shterpce, Hani Elezit/DjeneralJankovic, Ferizaj/Urosevac, Kacanik/Kaqanik, Ranilug/Raniluk, Kllokot/Klokot, Gracanica/Gracanice, Prizren
Determined to increase the number of sustainable jobs and economic prospects for young people in Kosovo and Serbia, SPARK focuses on improving of higher education and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth. Watch this video for more on SPARK’s mediation initiatives in the Balkans.