The refrigerating warehouse and collecting point “Flavio” in the village of Strum, Fier district, which assists local farmers in the regions of Fier and Berat, has expanded its agricultural products assembling and collecting thanks to a funding of 18 million lek the company has benefited from the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA). Prime Minister Ed Rama, accompanied by the Parliament Speaker Gramoz Ruçi, also MP representing Fier district, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bledi Çuçi, visited the newly reconstructed facility with a capacity of 200 tons.

“ARDA has invested some 18 million lek for construction of the new facility that serves as a refrigerating warehouse and collecting point for export-bound fruits and vegetables,” ARDA Director Frida Krifca said.

The two enterpreneurs Florian and Qemal said that the investment will help their company to become more competitive in the markets they export their products. “We own a refrigerating warehouse with a capacity of 200 tons that has been divided in compartments and this will certainly provide fresh products and help us to become more competitive in the markets where we operate. We export our products to Romania, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are also exporting to Montenegro and Serbia. We carry out assembling, packaging and storing of products to keep them fresh in the refrigerator. In this way we make sure that we export fresh products,” one of the entrepreneurs said.

The Premier praised entrepreneurs for the investment benefiting the whole area, where more than 400 farmers operate. The entrepreneurs said they regularly cooperate with the local farmers on basis of three-year contracts. PM Rama said that the area is registering high growth rates, also thanks to the government’s incentive policies for farmers and entrepreneurship. “It is a great step forward. This area is extraordinary in terms of its growth rates,” PM Rama noted.