EPICENTAR International from Skopje-North Macedonia, in line of permanent cooperation with Kosovo Association of the Processors and Exporters of the NWFP “ORGANIKA” , organize study visit of their members to Macedonians companies working with NWFP`s products. The purpose of the visit was to make first contacts between companies and to explore future cooperation in shearing information’s about purchasing NWFP`s, their processing, organic certification, trade and export, and access to international markets.
The “ORGANIKA” group was as follows:
Majlida Krasniqi – “Fungo”, Kadrije Dodaj – “ALTA”, Ahmet Govori – “Natyra”, Enis Bajrami – “Hitflores”, Erblin Gashi – “Eurofruti”, Liridon Krasniqi – “Agroshqiponja”, Tafil Veliu – “Agroflorentina”, Faton Nagavci – executive director of “ORGANIKA”.
The EPICENTAR group was composed of Ljubomir Dimovski - executive director, Damjan Shutevski and external consultant Pance Nikolov
The study visit was realized on 30 and 31 of March, by the following Agenda:
The first day of 30-th March,
- Visit to “Extra Fungi” company in v.Cesinovo, Kocani (http://www.extrafungi.com). This company is working mainly with mushrooms, purchasing, processing, packing and exporting in European Countries. The most of export products are organic certified.
In conversation with the owner of the company Sashko Antovski, the visitors were introduced to the operation of the company, the situation with the export of organic products, and the process of processing and packaging of products. It was showed interest in raw material exchange and future cooperation in the field.
- Visit to PE ”National Forests” – P.E. “Maleshevo” in Berovo (http://www.mkdsumi.com.mk ), the forest engineer Gjoko Portarski present working capacities of Hidro - destilation factory in the company. He explained history of capacities, their working processes and present status. They visited nursery of forestry seedlings, cone dryer and black pine seed center, tunnel mushroom and fruit dryer as part of a complex connected to the use of hot water steam. Visitors were informed about potential of production of NWFP`s in the region, and existing problems with company working.
The second day of study tour was realized visit to following companies:
- Visit to “Fungi Flora” from Radovish (www.fungiflora.clubeconomy.mk). Jure Georgiev the owner of the company, showed the capacities of the company, the equipment and its use in the processing season. A company from Kosovo, which is in the process of installing equipment similar to this one, has shown special interest in the tunnel freezing line. In the discussion on the procurement of raw materials, their purchase and export prices, the future directions for trade cooperation and exchange of products were agreed.
- Visit to “Flores” Skopje (http://www.flores.com.mk), production unit Oraovica – Radovish. Flores, as the largest export company ofNWFP`s and their raw materials from Macedonia, was in the phase of relocating the equipment and raw materials to a new location in Radovish. However, the manager of the company Laze Eftimov welcomed the visitors and showed the equipment on the line for processing medicinal and aromatic herbs, their pressing and packaging and preparation for export. Visitors from Kosovo showed special interest in processing and packaging of pine and oak lichen, for which the manager had prepared samples for direct purchase of raw materials from Kosovo.
- Visit to “Herba Natura” Skopje – production unit Petrovec (http://www.herbanatura.mk). Dimitar Dimovski The owner of the company for distillation of essential oils from medicinal and aromatic herbs and fruits, welcomed the visitors and showed his plant, which was put into operation a week ago. The owner showed the capacity of the hydro-distillery, the conditions under which it operates and the advantage of the new technology in the extraction of essential oils from raw materials. They saw the process of extracting juniper oil, collecting it and storing it in special containers. The owner presented the work plan of the distillery in the next period of the year, for which the members of Organika showed special interest in cooperation.