Swisscontact in Kosovo discusses partnership for a sustainable future in the food processing sector
Express newspaper
18/06/2025 14:46
Pristina, June 17 – Experts, representatives of local and international institutions, as well as key stakeholders of the food sector in Kosovo, gathered on Tuesday at the conference “Development of the Food Sector in Kosovo – Achievements and the Way Forward”, organized by Swisscontact through the Private Sector Employment Promotion (PPSE) project, supported by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Kosovo.
The conference took place at a key moment for the country’s food processing sector to assess achievements to date and set the direction for further, sustainable and inclusive development.
In her opening remarks, the Secretary General at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Venera Çerkini, said that the agricultural sector is an important pillar of economic development in the country.
“The agriculture and food sector remains one of the most important pillars of our country’s economic development. This sector not only provides food for our citizens but also keeps rural areas alive and provides sustainable employment opportunities for thousands of families in Kosovo.”, Cherkin emphasized.
Meanwhile, Jean-Christophe Favre from the Swiss Embassy in Kosovo said that Swiss support, through the PPSE project, has opened new avenues of cooperation between farmers, collectors, producers and the retail sector, developing this sector to a competitive level in the region.
Meanwhile, the director of Swisscontact in Kosovo, Fisnik Reçica, thanked the project partners, and added that after 12 years of close cooperation with the private sector and public institutions, PPSE proves that systemic change in Kosovo is possible when sustainable ownership and capacities are created among the market actors themselves.
“From our reflections as Swisscontact and as the PPSE team that we have made over the last year, one of the most important lessons we can say that makes a facilitation project like PPSE successful is the ability to be flexible, adaptable, closely connected to the actors, dynamics and needs of the sector.”, said the director of Swisscontact in Kosovo.
While the details of the 12-year work of the PPSE project in the food processing sector were presented by Avni Ramadani and Diana Rexhepi.
“Our goal was to engage, together with sector stakeholders and with a comprehensive approach, in improving competitiveness, improving and diversifying the offer, and improving access to markets.”Ramadani exclaimed.
The results showed the impact of systemic and innovative interventions in the sector.
“Our approach with local manufacturers has been a joint commitment to building technological capacities, strengthening knowledge, advancement and innovation, therefore it has seen a better opportunity not only for the development of new products but also an opportunity to add value to the products.”, Rexhepi added at the end.
The subsequent discussion brought concrete examples from the field through dedicated enterprises such as AgroCelina, Bliff Organic, Liostep and Ananas Impex, who shared their experiences on food processing, challenges towards organic certification and increasing export capacities.