Under the scope of the Austrian Development Cooperation-funded INTERDEV 2 project, Viti/Vitina Municipality and UNDP today publicly launched the analysis of value chains in the sectors of tourism (hospitality and gastronomy), and fruits, vegetables, and cereals. The assessment in Viti/Vitina provides evidence for the local private sector, as well as the public sector and civil society in Viti/Vitina to better understand the current capacities, challenges and necessities within the respective value chains and offers recommendations for improvements within the respective sectors. Composed with an implementation plan of the proposed recommendations, the assessment further gives opportunities for the synergies towards broader development of the private sector in Viti/Vitina and beyond, also with Dragash/Dragaš and Shtërpcë/Štrpce as the partner municipalities of the project.

With the kind presence of the Counsellor & Head of Country Office/Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation of the Austrian Embassy in Prishtinë/Priština, Mr. Gunther Zimmer; the Mayor of Viti/Vitina Municipality, Mr. Sokol Haliti; and representatives from three project partner municipalities and the private sector; the event presented the findings as well as offered a space for discussion around providing an enabling environment for the private sector in Viti/Vitina.

Mayor of Viti/Vitina Sokol Haliti opened the event with words of appreciation: "We are pleased to see the results of INTERDEV. Value chain report will support us technically in our economic development, and I am emphasizing our full commitment to this project".

"I want to express our appreciation to implementation of this project. Success stories are important to us. The more we have, the more we are pleased, especially those from partner municipalities", added Mr. Gunther Zimmer, Head of Country Office of ADA in Kosovo.

Since its start in 2014, the project has supported the development of the private sector and analysis and development of value chains with potential to bring prosperous development in the partner municipalities of Shtërpcë/Štrpce in the sectors of tourism; beekeeping; and forest fruits, medicinal and aromatic herbs, mushrooms and cultivation of berries; Dragash/Dragaš in the sectors of Milk and Meat; Fruits, Vegetables and Cereals; Herbs; Bees; Forest Fruits; and Textile and Clothes, and in now in its second phase in Viti/Vitina.

Furthermore, the joint brochure “My Municipality” was announced by the three municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce, and Viti/Vitina. The aim of the brochure is to better inform citizens of the role of each sector and get clear and better understanding of the public services provided.

Since 2014, the INTERDEV project has supported residents in the municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and newly in Viti/Vitina to develop new skills, find jobs, increase agricultural production, and generate more financial income for local communities. The project actively promotes empowerment of women, youth, and people at risk of being left behind with opportunities for employment, development of skills, and rural entrepreneurship.

The report can be found here, in English, Albanian and Serbian languages: http://bit.ly/2FJpmfi