First ostrich farm in Albania – an Albanian – Dutch investment

PATOS, April.14 – In order to celebrate a successful cooperation and the first results of a new investment, an opening ceremony for the first ostrich farm in Albania was organised on Saturday, at the ostrich farm facilities in Patos.
It was officially opened by the Albanian Minister of Agriculture, Food and Consumers Protection, Jemin Gjana and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Albania, Sweder van Voorst tot Voorst. Senior representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs (EVD), Albanian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection, Albanian companies, business support organisations, public/private institutions, officials of line Ministries and other stakeholders attended this opening ceremony.
The Albanian-Dutch ostrich company (ANOC) was established in 2005 with the support of a program of the Dutch government that promotes business and investments in emerging markets, the so called PSOM program (www.evd.nl/psom).
In the framework of this program (PSOM), the joint-venture established between the Albanian and Dutch company has received a grant from the Dutch Government, which has enabled their investment in ostrich growing and meat production for the domestic market and potential foreign markets.
So far there are 100 breeders, 70 female and 30 male ostriches, and the slaughter house has also been installed. Ostrich meat production will start in the near future.