Cost-Share Grants Nurture Economic Growth, One Business at a Time
A nursery's expansion into vegetable seedlings, a wood processor's new plant and successful products in other business sectors were showcased on May 17, 2008 during USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore’s visit to Kosovo.
At the Las Pallmas nursery in Lipjan/Lipljan, owner Luan Buqaj invited Administrator Fore to start-up operation of his vegetable seedling equipment, which will produce 400,000 seedlings in the first year of operation, providing high quality vegetable transplants to 200 farmers. USAID contributed a cost-share grant of 25,000 through its Kosovo Cluster and Business Support (KCBS) project to help Las Pallmas purchase the 55,315 euro machine.
"Seedlings will be less expensive, more available, and will grow more quickly. It will create employment for people who grow these plants and want to sell the produce, as well as employment here [at the nursery]. Operating and maintaining the machine are both skills that can be used in the business sector," observed Fore.
Administrator Fore also toured the family-run Ukaj wood processing plant in Lipjan/Lipljan which produces chairs, tables, doors and wood flooring. Through a USAID KCBS cost-share grant, Ukaj has received technical assistance to improve operations efficiency, expand marketing, and adapt equipment for new uses. At a reception organized at Ukaj offices by the local business community, Fore met several local successful producers from diverse sectors and association representatives to discuss challenges facing Kosovo's business community. The KCBS project is implemented by Chemonics International.
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| At the nursery, Adminstrator Fore is shown the process of seedlings growth by Luan Buqaj, the owner of Las Pallmas. |
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