Shqiprim Lubishtani (Ship) has been our SEC coordinator in Kosovo since May 2022. He took on this role when he joined Swisscontact Kosovo for the “Promoting Private Sector Engagement (PPSE)” project. Ship has extensive experience in product development and sales.
Ship’s role within PPSE means that he is predestined for the role of a SEC coordinator: he is in close contact with SMEs on a daily basis, knows our clients and their needs well and can make them directly aware of what the SEC has to offer. This is exactly what he likes about his engagement for the SEC: the fact that the SEC can help businesses and enthusiasts to make their dream reality. Ship also appreciates the fact that he gets to know great people who have a lot of professional experience.
SEC in Kosovo
The SEC has been active in Kosovo since 2001. Around 180 SEC assignments have been carried out to date. In more than half of these assignments, SEC experts have advised companies and organisations from the food industry and the tourism sector. For Kosovo, these sectors, along with agriculture, are particularly suitable for SEC assignments. From 2024, further areas will be open for SEC assignments: As part of a new Swisscontact project, assignments are planned in the clothing industry and in furniture carpentry.
11 of the assignments to date have been supervised by Ship, and he believes that “the customised expertise and insight provided by the retired SEC experts has proven invaluable to the companies involved, going far beyond what is normally available in the local market. The personalised attention and expertise have significantly improved these companies’ operations, innovation and overall competitiveness.”
Ship also considers the SEC to be central to overcoming knowledge gaps in the future. Tailor-made expert advice and the necessary know-how are provided to Kosovan companies and organisations in order to optimise their processes, increase their ability to innovate and fundamentally improve their competitiveness.
Experiences with SEC assignments
Ship is very impressed by what the former SEC client in Kosovo has achieved through a great deal of commitment and the implementation of input from SEC experts:
For his first SEC client, the implementation of the suggestions for improvement led to the day-to-day work being greatly simplified. Another client succeeded in developing a product with the help of the SEC expert that can compete with imported products and well-known brands. In a third SEC assignment, the SEC expert not only developed new recipes with the team, but thanks to his good relationship with the individual team members, he got everyone to work more efficiently and commit themselves to the company and to better sales figures.
Ship’s closing words are: “Kosovo is special for its diverse cultures, and beautiful landscapes, including ancient monasteries, vibrant traditions, and stunning places like the Rugova Canyon and Sharr Mountains. The people of Kosovo, known for their entrepreneurial spirit, strong work ethic, and focus on innovation, add to the country’s charm with their resilience, youthful energy, and unique culinary traditions.”
Facts & Figures Kosovo
| Capital | Prishtina |
| Area in km2 | 10,908 |
| Population | 1,782,115 |
| Language(s) | Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian, Gorani, Romani, Turkish |
| Conducted SEC assignments since 2001 |
181 |
| Assignment main industries |
Food (38%), Tourism (17%), Agriculture (8%) |
| Swisscontact in Kosovo | Since 2001 4 projects are currently running Learn more about Swisscontact’s activities in Kosovo: Kosovo – Countries – Site |
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