For years, Fitim Thaqi, a young entrepreneur from Rahovec living in Germany, was searching for ways to contribute to the betterment of his homeland. Unbeknown to him, another Kosovan émigré just a train ride away was looking for ways to use skills in gastronomy and business operations to do the exact same thing. Shortly after the two met, they hatched a plan to bring the flavors of Kosovo to a broader European public.
Among their early successes, the two businessmen managed to introduce the Kosovan delicacy Ajvar at one of EDEKA’s supermarkets in Germany. They then proceeded to market a variety of “Made in Kosovo” products at more than 20 stores countrywide.
An invitation from USAID’s Kosovo Compete Activity, implemented by DT Global, to take part in Food Sector Forum 2022 provided an opportunity to take this initiative further and engage with even more food production enterprises. At the Forum, Thaqi signed agreements with several Kosovan food processing companies, leading to exports worth an impressive 1.5 million euros by 2023.
“Food Sector Forum in 2022 was a blast!” said Thaqi. “There, we saw the potential of doing business, we tasted the products, and we could make agreements on the spot. The event made me and Faton (Seferi) think that we can make something even bigger”
Soon after, they joined forces and embarked on a new journey together — the creation of Drini Market, a commercial space in Augsburg, Germany displaying over 500 locally sourced products. With a spacious 600 square meter store front, they serve approximately 10,000 members of the Kosovan diaspora from the area and nearby Munich. Thaqi and Seferi have actively engaged the local community in Augsburg and recently even invited women artisans to produce the traditional layered baked good known as “flia,” at the market.
Their firm commitment is spurring the successes of Drini Market but also serving as a testament to the resilience and originality of the Kosovan entrepreneurial spirit.
“Kosovan companies have struggled with long-term strategies, export expertise, and marketing know-how. However, there are some companies who are eager to learn and adapt to new environments. USAID did a great job in transferring the best practices to those companies,” adds Seferi.
Now, with over 30 companies distributing Kosovo products to Germany, the two businessmen are shifting their focus to optimizing logistics and establishing a state-of-the-art collection warehouse in Rahovec equipped to meet German standards. Despite facing challenges, Mr. Thaqi and Mr. Seferi remain undeterred and continue to serve the people of Kosovo.
Update: We are thrilled to share that our USAID Kosovo Compete Activity has been honored with a Certificate of Acknowledgement from Drini Market, underscoring our project's dedication to strengthening business relationships and promoting Kosovo’s food industry. Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7213628407710953473
