Partners Albania  organized on June 12-13, 2024, the “Green Business Competition 2024”.

The Green Business Competition is an activity organized by Partners Albania since 2012. It aims to stimulate and encourage innovation for green business ideas at the local level and explores the role of philanthropy in engaging local communities to generate green business ideas that utilize local resources and revitalize disappearing traditional production chains and community-based markets. By supporting innovative, local sustainable economic development initiatives, The Green Business Competition aims to substantively contribute to building a peaceful, competitive, and prosperous Western Balkans and Greece region in line with the seven (7) Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

 This year, the organization of the Green Business Competition was supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Tirana Bank, Credins Bank and Kastrati Group.

 The competition supports business ideas in two main LOTs according to their stage of maturity:

LOT 1: Business Ideas at Conceptual Stage

LOT 2: Businesses in Pre-Seed Stage

Twenty finalists, selected among competitors from the first phase of the application, presented their business ideas during the second phase of the competition. The business ideas were evaluated by an independent jury of experts in the area of economy and business development. This year winners are:

FOR LOT 1: BUSINESS IDEAS AT THE CONCEPTUAL STAGE

 “THE MUSHROOM FARM” by Rexhina Gjolla

The idea consists in establishing a mushroom farm to provide a nutritious, safe and locally grown product, using environmentally friendly practices, driven by the growing demand for fresh local organic products.

 “ALBANIAN CANYONING ADVENTURES” by Kozma Prendi

The idea consists in organizing canyoning tours in the Osum River in Skrapar, as a unique experience for exploring these natural attractions, through an approach that combines adventure tourism with educational programs, specifically designed to develop adventure tourism in the sport of canyoning.

“ECO AD PACK” by Ledian Shera

The idea consists in setting up an innovative marketing platform that aims to support small and medium-sized bakeries, offering them free ecological bags as an effective tool to reinforce their market presence and expand their eco-friendly influence, as well as allowing larger businesses to advertise their products or services on these bags, creating a mutually beneficial tool.

Each of the winning ideas under this Lot will be financially supported with up to 500,000 ALL.

FOR LOT 2: BUSINESSES IN PRE-SEED STAGE

 “AGALMA SUSTAINABLE SOUVENIRS” by Ermal Cukani

The business idea consists in the production of souvenirs that promote our country (bookmarks, luggage tags, coasters, paperweights) alongside classic souvenirs, with the elements of natural materials and recyclability as common denominators. The souvenirs reflect Albanian characters who have had a global impact, as well as important monuments of the country, with an innovative approach in presenting messages.

 “SHEBENIK EGNATIA EXPLORERS” by Lytfi Alliu

The business idea consists in the development and expansion of moving camps in the Shebenik National Park, as well as in segments of the Egnatia Road. Through the support by the competition, the services provided will be improved (games, various activities, stargazing with a telescope, traditional foods) and capacities (including equipment) will be increased.

 “DANJA’S RASPBERRIES”, Scale-Up by Sentiljana Marku

The business idea consists in the further development of the “Danja’s Raspberries” farm (“Mjedrat e Danjës” in Albanian) for the production of Raspberries, or as it is otherwise known as the “Red Gold”. The support from the Green Business Competition will enable the diversification of the product, the increase of the plantation and the establishment of the collection point for the districts of Shkodra and Lezha.

Each of the winning ideas under this Lot will be financially supported with up to 800,000 ALL.

Three of the winners from the national competition will automatically become part of the regional “Balkan Green Ideas” Competition 2024, which this year will take place in September in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visit the photo gallery from the Green Business Competition 2024.