Organized by the Regional Development Agency in Kukes, the “Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Fair” took place on the 21^st of December, 2016, at hotel “Gjallica” in Kukes, Albania. The Fair was organized in cooperation with the Kukes Regional Council and in partnership with the Municipality of Dragash from Kosovo*.

The main goal of the “Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Fair” was to provide support for the establishment and expansion of small enterprises and entrepreneurship, increase of export, impulsion of youth and women entrepreneurship, as well as promotion of entrepreneurial culture. The Fair was an incentive for over 50 businesses from the agriculture, tourism and food industry to exhibit their products and services. This event contributed to the reconciliation and the strengthening of partnerships of entrepreneurs and the business community and created favorable conditions for the private sector growth, which will have a positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of all communities living in Kukes, Albania.

At the Fair products from different areas were exhibited, such as: crafts, farming products, medicinal plants, various dishes, products from recycled materials, plastic products etc. The local entrepreneurs had the chance to promote the local products, such as raspberries, blueberries, medicinal herbs and forest fruits from Kukes. All these products were presented by young people in the age between 16 to 30 years from the Sharra region.

This activity was part of the European Union funded project “Fostering regional cooperation and balanced territorial development of the Western Balkan countries in the EU integration process” implemented by SWG.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.