Speeches Shim
USAID Kosovo - Private Sector Engagement - Stojan Milojevic
Private sector is essential to Kosovo’s democratic and economic progress. Innovation, technology, employment, are only few of avenues that drive and sustain outcomes capable of moving Kosovo toward its journey to self-reliance.
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Video Transcript
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The private sector, as an agent of development, specifically in
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the sphere of agricultural economy, in which our company operates,
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plays a crucial role in its expansion and development.
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There are certain plants which,
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let’s put it this way,
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are interesting to the foreign market, be it the EU or the US.
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Depending on whether a plant is gathered from the wild or cultivated,
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private initiatives which relate to the environment
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and focus on certain plant species, which is what we do,
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can provide employment for a lot of people
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so that many women, and young people can give
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their contribution to quick economic development of Kosovo.
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In the last five years, the pace of private sector development
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in the area of plants and herbs has been quite dramatic.
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Every new value created recently, be it a product or a service, contributes to Kosovo’s development.
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More specifically, speaking of our activity,
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it isn’t based solely on one particular product
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or one particular type of activity.
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As a matter of fact, our engagement follows three different directions.
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The first one is promotion of cultivated plantations of certain plant species,
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where we are able to hire a number of subcontractors who supply us with certain raw materials.
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The second one is the planting of new types of plants, which are able to grow in Kosovo.
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And last, but not least, is the gathering of plants growing in the wild.
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We wouldn’t be able to do that on our own,
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as it’s certain groups of workers, women, man or young people, who do the bulk of the work there,
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thus earning additional income for themselves.
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This way, they supply us with the raw material we later process with our employees
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into products we place on the market.
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Our company has precisely 14 full-time employees,
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25 part-time employees, or seasonal employees as we refer to them, and we also
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have 12 subcontractors, who supply us with raw plant materials,
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as well as the ones who produce different products for us, which we then buy.
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There are approximately 70 to 80 people, random families
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who collect wild plants, non-wood forest plants.
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Our plan going forward,
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in the next year,
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is that, apart from essential oils which we place in the market,
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foreign markets for the most part, and certain plants,
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we succeed with placement of a plant
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which is widely popular in the global market. This plant is called black elderberry (lat, Sambucus Nigra),
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which can easily be grown in our area, and does not require special care.
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Thus, our involvement
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in planting and cultivation of this plant
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would increase employment of additional workers.
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We could increase the employed workforce by 30 percent.
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People could engage
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in the cultivation of this plant
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in a long-term plan, because the fruit of this plant is in high demand
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in the global market, as it is greatly used in the pharmaceutical industry
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as well as for various dietary supplements.
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What I would like to highlight is the attitude young entrepreneurs,
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that have either started a business or intend to do so, must have
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whether in cooperation with us, in this agricultural activity, or in general.
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Since I am a little older and I have seen a lot,
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my recommendation is to not hesitate and to be open and free to start a private business.
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From our side, me personally and the company I run,
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we are always ready and willing to help, be it through giving advice, specific instructions, or through placement, in our mutual interest.
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Independent business, particularly those created by young people,
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have a future. But for what reason?
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Because they tend not to be burdened by the past.
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Be it through debts, prejudices or connections with politics.
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This means that young people can focus on their business and succeed
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in developing their companies, their hometowns, whether in the north or south.
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We know how they can grow and prosper and how that growth can be accelerated.
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The international community, of course, has helped a lot, and it should continue to do so.
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The local government should also get involved as much as possible.
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We are able to give plenty of suggestions, based on our experience, be it regarding infrastructure solutions,
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or other issues. Particularly, if we look back at the current year, which was a very dry year in general.
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If, for example, irrigation systems are improving, and proper investment goes into them,
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then many young people would start new businesses, but they are oftentimes stopped due to lack of access to financing.
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That stops them from bringing their business ideas to fruition.
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Last updated: May 06, 2022
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