The Albanian Agribusiness & Tourism Support Facility (AATSF) participated in the first edition of the Expo Forum “Agri Financing and Food Safety in Albania 2019” held in Divjaka.
The two-day event was organized by Konfindustria in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Municipality of Divjaka, National Food Agency (NFA) and Agency for Rural Development and Agriculture (ARDA).
The forum offered businesses and financial institutions from the region Myzeqe and the rest of the country a platform to present their products and services in the fields of agriculture, agri-industry, agri-tourism, etc. with the aim to promote new business opportunities and cooperation.
The ongoing AATSF program was represented and introduced by Ms. Adela Leka, Deputy Director of AATSF. In her speech, Ms. Adela emphasized AATSF’s innovative approach in its financial and technical assistance targeted at the entire agricultural value chain and consequently having a comprehensive and lasting impact on the economic development of the agricultural sector.
One of the main issues discussed during the forum was that of food safety in view of two key factors, namely consumer health and increasing exports of “Made in Albania” products. The main solutions discussed with regard to these challenges in food safety included the implementation of policies for the development and financing of agriculture, Certification and standardization.
Furthermore, the increasing involvement of local government in the formulation, drafting and implementation of local policies was regarded as indispensable for the further development of the local agricultural sector.
At the stand of the AATSF Program made available for this event, attendees had the opportunity to become better acquainted with the mechanisms of the Program. The stand also exhibited studies conducted by experts on the potential of agribusiness in Albania as well as investment opportunities in Albanian agriculture in general. Representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as supporters of the AATSF Program, as well as representatives of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other financial institutions attended the expo forum.
AATSF continues to work on building bridges of communication between agribusiness and partner financial institutions in order to promote the economic development of the country in the fields of agriculture, agri-industry, and agritourism.