On November 22, 2021, the EU Support to the Competitiveness of the Kosovo ICT Sector project hosted a B2B event in Istog. The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of Kosovar businesses through digitalization and internationalization, contributing to economic growth and job creation. The event brought together ICT businesses and local companies in the fish processing and tourism sectors to explore cooperation opportunities in digital transformation, competitiveness, and export development.
The event was organized in cooperation with the Municipality of Istog, local business chambers, and associations. The event began with a welcome speech by Mrs. Edita Krasniqi, who introduced the ICT for Kosovo’s Growth project. Mr. Ismet Mulaj, representing the Enterprise Europe Network, an EU-funded initiative, also addressed the attendees.
The event was open to the public, with approximately 14 attendees. During the meeting, participants shared their opinions, ideas, and suggestions on integrating information technology into businesses managed by women.
Each ICT company had 15 minutes to present their products and services focused on digital marketing. These presentations allowed the ICT companies to showcase their expertise and explore opportunities for collaboration with local businesses in the fish processing and tourism sectors.
All participants agreed on the importance of integrating technology into production and management systems. This consensus led to smooth implementation and created a strong foundation for future ICT integration and business development.
Following the B2B meetings, participants visited local fish processing companies. ICT companies learned more about their operations and exchanged information with 12 companies from the fish processing and tourism sectors. Each company met with ICT businesses to discuss potential collaboration and exchanged contacts, brochures, and ideas for future meetings focused on digital marketing. In total, the event resulted in 24 B2B meetings.
The participants appreciated the meeting format, as it gave them a clear understanding of production requirements from an ICT perspective. This allowed them to visualize how digital solutions could be implemented. Both the production companies and ICT businesses embraced the need for technology integration in their operations. This shared commitment to digital transformation will help improve competitiveness in local and international markets.
