Rimini, May 9, 2025_A real success AICS Tirana’s participation to MacFrut 2025, where 13 Albanian agricultural companies and their products were presented – in partnership with UNDP – and business meetings held with Italian and international potential partners.
This is the second consecutive year for AICS Tirana at the Rimini fair dedicated to the fruit and vegetable sector, proving the job carried out on the field and the commitment of the local office of the Italian cooperation to support small Albanian agricultural producers. At MacFrut 2025 13 different firms were present: 6 extra virgin olive oils from Lushnje and Tirana (Alsa, Bakiasi, Bekstashi, Darsia, Shkalla and Xhebexhiu), fruits – especially cherries – and juices from Peshkopi and Puka (Kop Frut Diber, Dibra fruit and Dalmacia), pickled vegetables from Lushnje (Tabaku and Alfa), medicinal plants and herbs/essential oils from Gramsh and Tirana (Vasilis Organic and Albkalustyan).
Many visitors were interested in rural development projects funded by AICS in Albania, as well as operators who, through the B2B platform set up by the fair, met Albanian producers and started a dialogue aimed at commercial agreements. Dalmacia, for example, beneficiary of the project “Ruralbania” (implemented by RTM – Volontari nel Mondo), promoted fruit juices from Puka area to buyers from the Emirates, Poland and Northern Italy. With a partner coming from Lombardia region in particular, they went beyond a simple introduction and a dialogue about Dalmacia catalog – they discussed how to improve the packaging and they finalized a pilot purchase in order to test the commercial possibilities of these juices.
In addition to the producers, three officials from MARD – Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also participated to the fair and to the activities promoted by AICS Tirana stand. Dr. Festim Shytaj had the opportunity to take part as a panelist at the seminar related to olive oil production and marketing in Albania and Italy, organized by AICS Tirana in collaboration with University of Bologna and Tecnopolo Forlì-Cesena. Together with speakers from the academic and research world, public support to the sector and entrepreneurship in both countries, this workshop was a stimulating opportunity for analysis and reflection, both for Albanian producers and the Italian public. Afterwards, Dr. Tullia Gallina Toschi and panel leader Sara Barbieri from the University of Bologna distributed samples of Albanian and Italian olive oil, illustrating tasting techniques and main principles of degustation – a very useful activity for Albanian producers, in order to understand strengths and weaknesses of their olive oils and improve production processes.
See you on April 21, 2026 for the next edition of MacFrut!
