USAID Assistance Supports Growth of Albanian Businesses
On October 6, 2007, Dr. Douglas Menarchik, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia visited the TONA CO. Meat Processing in Korca, Albania and met with the owner, Nikolla Tona. Since 2004, USAID’s Enterprise Development and Export Market Services (EDEM) program has assisted TONA in improving production, marketing, and management of its operations. TONA CO. makes over 40 different types of salamis and sausages, three canned meat products, and five packaged meat cuts for the domestic market.
“I wish you success in your future investments and look forward to a continuing partnership with USAID to make TONA CO more competitive in the Albanian and international markets,” said Assistant Administrator Menarchik following his tour of a new facility. Once completed, the new facility will contain a state-of-the-art production line for fresh meats, refrigeration and large capacity storage for unprocessed and finished products. Menarchik also visited the company’s canned meat processing line which began operating in 2005. All of these investments were introduced based on recommendations provided by USAID’s EDEM program.
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| USAID Assistant Administrator Menarchik toured a meat processing plant that had benefited directly as a result of USAID support |
The visit to TONA was part of Menarchik’s three-day tour of USAID programs in Elbasan, Pogradec, and Korca.
Tona showed the USAID visitors both the new and old facilities and informed them of his intention to further modernize and expand the meat processing plant in Korça and apply for international food safety and management certifications (HACCP and ISO 9001) in early 2008. Based on the trainings and market research conducted by EDEM, TONA CO will be selling fresh meat cuts for the first time in Korça and will be the first meat processing firm to enter the frozen pizza market. Since 2005, TONA CO. has doubled the number of employees and experienced a 10 percent increase in annual sales each year.
A USAID-organized study tour to Poland in 2005 helped TONA CO. establish business linkages with technology/equipment companies and meat suppliers. Those contacts have enabled TONA CO. to make several investments to improve its storage capacity, which will enable it to start procuring meat supplies directly from Europe. In 2007, EDEM supported TONA’s participation in several Business-to-Business (B2B) events and professional trainings, including the Kosovo Trade Fair, Vlora Agribusiness Fair, and ISO Internal Auditor training.
USAID promotes the competitiveness of Albanian small and medium enterprises in domestic and foreign markets and accelerates the entry of Albanian exports into global markets. EDEM is working with several meat processing facilities throughout Albania, including Meat Master in Shkodra, Arani in Tirana, and Driza in Fier. USAID also supports smaller companies, including Bardhi, Rozafa, Albidea, and Pienvis. EDEM provides technical assistance to these companies to guide and ensure sustainable growth, improve the companies’ market presence, while ensuring high standards of food safety and quality throughout the market chain. To date one company has earned HACCP food safety certification and four have ISO 9001 quality management certification.
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