Italy Tells Permet

italy
tells
përmet
culture nature hospitality food quality

culture
nature
hospitality
food quality
Përmet is a European town in the South of Albania. Its community is made
up of European people, even if Albania hasn’t joined the European Union yet.
Italy can tell you its story.
20 years ago Përmet was a municipality of a troubled country. Common citizens
had a dream: escape. Still, they were embraced by an astonishing Nature
and had the proud of a strong popular Culture. Everything started from them.
In 1997, after the collapse of the financial pyramids and the explotion of
violent revolts, Italy leaded the International Operation Alba to sustain the
Albanian Institutions and population at risk. Too much weapons engulfed the
streets. Many boys were shooting for fun and many girls were sleeping on the
floor to avoid bullets entering from the window. Everyone understood military
operations were not enough to get over the conflict. The Italian Government
increased the number of Development Cooperation initiaves.
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Mountains embraced Përmet, with snow in winter, woods in summer. The
town was safer then Vlora, Tirana or Durres. Emigration and crime were
desperate solutions against poverty, but a rural rebirth was clearly possible.
In 1997 the Ngo Cesvi, funded by the Italian Cooperation, started working
in the South of Albania focusing on the emergency sector: health care, water
and sanitation, assistance to the refugees from Kosovo. In 2004, Cesvi became
officially a local association: Cesvi Albania.
“Living side by side, people for people,
Italians and Albanians on the ground
had a new dream: change.”
The assets of the area haven’t changed. Përmet had natural beauty to discover,
food tradition to taste, welcoming people to meet. Treasures to rely on. But too
many times Albanians had been brothers of foreigners, foreigners of brothers.
In 20 years of Cooperation with Italy, Përmet, around 10.000 citizens, has
proved to have a partecipatory, active and creative community. The number of
tourists is steadily increasing. It raised up to 25.000 in 2018. At the beginning,
citizens desired to leave, now international travellers plan to visit the region.
It wasn’t as easy, as talk. Together we walked, following a shared path. The
Italian Cooperation funded the creation of a Consortium: Pro Përmet. Families
and small private companies joined in, bringing traditional know how
and innate proactivity. Cesvi, No Profit associations and the municipalities of
Përmet and Kelcyre were part of it. Also Italian partners, like Slow Food, Local
Action Groups and Responsible Tourism associations contributed with their
best practises and know how. A local develpment strategy for the region was
approved.

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Grants and microcredits have been released, for new public infrastractures,
start-ups, new machineries and capacity building. Now Përmet has new guesthouses,
better hotels and restaurants, stronger small companies in the food
sector, new associations for outdoor touristic activities. Everything was made
through a equal partecipatory model.
Nothing could have been possible without the women and men of Përmet. 25
small entrepreneurs and more then 50 among products and services have been
awarded with the ethical mark Made With Italy, conceived and owned by the
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Albania. In the near future,
tens of Përmet typical products will be distributed and promoted, along with
touristic services.
Nothing could be possible without the enhancement of the environmental and
cultural heritage of the region and improving the quality of public services.
Italy sustained the reconstruction of the multifunctional centers of Kelcyre and
Përmet. The University of Florence will complete 3D mapping and restoration
of cultural heritage in the villages of Benje, Kosine and Leusa. A management
plan for the Protected Areas of Bredhi i Hotoves has been outlined. New
infrastructures have been and will be created. Tourism packages promoted.
A new One Stop Shop digitalizes and simplifies public services for citizens.
The Government of Albania, European Union, UNDP and the International
Cooperations are part of this community of change.
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Today the Consortium Pro Përmet works for the development of the
area as a European Local Action Group. As soon as the Law on the
Leader Approach is approved by the Goverment of Albania, they may
start applying for European funds. They may well received them. Italy
supported the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
in writing the Law. 2019 is the year to act, approve Law and ByLaws and
open a new door of integration for Albanian citizens.
“Përmet is a European town to discover.”

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Credits:
Ernesto Spinelli.
Texts, Communication Management
Kube Studios.
Creative Agency, Executive Production, Photography & Design
Special thanks to:
Embassy of Italy in Tirana
Cesvi
Municipality of Përmet
Municipality of Këlcyrë
Pro Përmet
Slow Food Përmet
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