STARTUPS
Meet 4 Inspirational Startups who Share the EU4Innovation Boost PRESS TRIP COVERED BY: Rudina HOXHA & Jose PINTO from TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE www.jphospitality.eu On July 2021, the EU Delegation to Albania launched its new campaign: Europe Is Here! The campaign re-emphasized the fact that EU is already present everywhere in Albania, every day improving the life of Albanians. The European Union gives 100 million Euro to Albania every year to bring Albania closer to the values and standards of the European Union, making it the largest donor in the country. In this context of this campaign, a group of Albanian journalists had an on-site visit in a number of businesses in the North of Albania, supported by the EU Delegation to Albania. During this visit, conducted on November 25, 2021, the media was accompanied by Mr. Hubert Perr, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to Albania. The four businesses, visited by the media, represent success stories due to the original ideas they are based on and the sustainable and tangible results they produce for the people contributing to their daily lives. The visit started with Alpine Bees, a family-owned business, whose CEO and Founder, Rinaldo Gjolaj, introduced the visitors to the
premises where the honey and its by-products are produced and processed at a high quality by following the most innovative and traditional methods. “A family and provincial tradition was the first initiator for me to deal with bees and honey, and turn it into a business where I make money. My relatives and family have kept bees for generations, but what pushed me to head into this business was after my dad bought 2 bees in 2016 and got 70 kg of honey,” said Gjolaj. 1