Construction of one of the largest centers for the collection and the storage of agricultural products started today in the municipality of Dushk, Lushnje. Works are funded by the company
“ELCOS Group” based in Kosovo. Prime Minister Edi Rama and MP Erion Brace laid the cornerstone for the construction of this center, which is considered an investment with great impact on one of the country’s agricultural areas. 400 employees will be engaged in this center, which envisages to include 10 thousand farmers of the area in its activity.
Investment worth over 7 million Euros covers an area of 21 thousand square meters and will be completed in four phases, including the construction of warehouses and modern cold storage facilities.
Investors intend to carry out an annual turnover of 100 million Euros from the collection, storage and processing of agricultural products for Kosovo, regional and European markets.
“It will not only meet needs of Kosovo citizens, but will be a complementary object of exchange for goods, in order to meet needs of citizens of both countries. This object will be an opportunity of the contracted production subject to export between demanders and farmers, not only in Kosovo but in the countries of the region and in Europe. “Dear Prime Minister, you have taken a special role in the trade exchange between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania. I can say that businesses of both countries will support you and are ready to act. But a faster enhancement of this initiative is required. Our citizens need employment, and our states need development”, – President of the company Ramiz Kelmendi said.
Prime Minister Rama said that this is an important investment for the modernization of agricultural infrastructure and support for farmers, who will have an easier access to the market for their products. According to the Prime Minister, this kind of investments facilitate export and increase trade exchange among countries.
“This is a very important moment. We crown the effort started some time ago with our friend Ramiz Kelmendi, whom I thank from the heart for his willingness but also for the quality with which he responded to our call to extend the collection network of products in Albania, in this blessed area which needs so much a modern infrastructure for the collection, agro-processing and export. Albania is today the country where Kosovo exports more than in any other country, but this is only the beginning, because I believe that through investments of this kind we increase not only trade exchanges but also our joint forces on the road to a total economic union. I am very confident that this investment will be a tremendous boost for farmers of the area. There are 10 thousand farmers, farm families, who will be included thanks to the investment in a network of cooperation, employment and sustainable income. Because what the opening of this modern collection infrastructure guarantees is exactly stable income for producers who, with this agreement with the collection company, have the guarantee that will seal every kilogram of their production.”
The Prime Minister welcomed this initiative of “ELCOS” and noted that such initiatives have an impact also on land consolidation, since they eliminate its fragmentation, in addition to increasing quality. “I believe very much – the Prime Minister said – that today, we are putting another mile stone on our path, in order to create a new space of development and exchanges with the world for Albanian agriculture.”
Agricultural potentials of the area are considered extremely large. “ELCOS” was considered by the Prime Minister a success guarantee also for other entrepreneurs from Kosovo to invest in the agro-processing industry in Albania, to whom he conveyed a message.
“There is a tremendous increase in export figures from this region towards many countries outside the border, and in the export of a range of extremely high quality products. We believe that the potential and the possibilities are much greater. What we need is to intensify efforts to modernize collection infrastructure, relations between producers, collectors and exporters, by thoroughly enhancing production and processing activity of our agriculture. There are today in this area outstanding examples of success but also of potentials.
By addressing exactly the need of these potentials to develop, we are here to open a new chapter that will be surely guaranteed by the presence of this company with such a great potential and so much experience. On the other hand, I would like to assure that the company’s plan is to expand further, and our will is to give ELKOS a strong support in order to give a very clear message to enterprises in Kosovo. Albania is your homeland. Albania is your land. Albania is the space where you must feel at home, because this is your home. For every Kosovo enterprise that seeks to extend in Albania, the Albanian government will be a steadfast supporter and will guarantee optimal conditions to Kosovo enterprises in order to develop naturally and to have a thorough integration and interaction of entrepreneurship on both sides of Mountains. In addition to bringing closer to the market 100 permanent employees, 300 seasonal ones and, above all 10 thousand farming families, and to guaranteeing continuous employment, this investment brings a burst toward modernization, as well as an additional contribution to a new work and interaction culture, without which nothing is possible.”
