The final presentation of the STEP project was held on 30 September, at which the results of the project were presented, followed by a panel discussion on the topic “Recommendations of the STEP project to overcome the challenges of improving tourism cross-border cooperation between Polog and Elbasan”. The event was held online and was attended by 88 participants. In addition to the members of the STEP network from both regions, officials from the municipalities, the Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism of RNM, representatives of the tourist chambers of the two countries and other state institutions related to tourism and tourism workers were also present.
At the beginning of the conference, Bardhyl Jashari – Executive Director of the Metamorphosis Foundation, Freek Janmat, Head of the Sector for Economic Affairs, Institution Building, Cross-Border Cooperation, EU Delegation Skopje, Fatmir Saitar – Development Director of the Polog Planning Region, Bukoros Stafa – Director of the Elbasan District Council and Hasan Drazi – Member of the Advisory Board of STEP.
The welcoming speeches were followed by the presentation of Florent Bajrami – Project Coordinator of STEP, who presented the achieved results of the project.
After the end of the official part, a panel discussion was held which referred to the recommendations of the STEP project and a special review of the topic was given by the speakers Biljana Pejoska Risteska – Executive Director of the Economic Chamber of Tourism of Macedonia, Darko Buldioski – consultant for digital communications, founder and director of NewMediaMK, Fatmir Saiti – Director of the Center for Development of the Polog Planning Region, Matilda Naco – Andoni – Executive Director of the Tourist Association of Albania and Albert Kaleci – Administrator of the local unit Steblevo. Q&A session followed.
The STEP project lasted 2 years and 9 months and is a grant agreement for IPA 2, Cross-border cooperation: the Republic of North Macedonia – Republic of Albania, allocations 2014-2015. Project partners are Metamorphosis – Foundation for Internet and Society, Center for Development of the Polog Planning Region and the Elbasan County Council.
You can watch part of the event at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/SSTEPMP/videos/336164567693225/
