On November 10^th, USAID Kosovo Mission Director James Hope spoke at the closing ceremony of the Business Aid Package program for 32 business grant beneficiaries. USAID has supported these businesses through grants for production equipment, tailor-made training and capacity building, as well as market linkage opportunities. They also received individualized branding packages as part of the project, which focused on supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in their integration to larger markets. 

The assistance is part of USAID’s Advancing Kosovo Together (AKT)– Local Solution program, which supports constructive inter-ethnic cooperation and interaction between majority and minority communities, which is vital to the security and stability of the region.  The activity partners directly with 16 municipalities: Gračanica/Graçanicë, Klokot/Kllokot, Parteš/Partesh, Ranilug/Ranillug, Novo Brdo/Novobërdë, and Štrpce/Shtërpcë, Obiliq/Obilić, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Istog/Istok, Klinë/Klina, Pejë/Peć and Vushtrri/Vučitrn, North Mitrovica/ë, Leposavić/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok and Zvečan/Zveçan.