Manufactures in Mitrovica, exports abroad
"Emini Collection" is the name of the newest company opened recently in Mitrovica. This is a textile enterprise, which differs from the others for the fact that the materials they deal with are of high quality and its products are exported abroad.
"Currently we have nine employees, but our desire is to increase this number several times more in the future ", Ferik Behrami, a representative of the enterprise, said. He told that they already have such an enterprise in Basel of Switzerland, but they willingly opened its branch office in this city after taking into consideration the current situation. "The purpose of opening the company is to employ people here, knowing what kind of situationprevails, and as well why not to have a product for exportation", Behrami said. "Emini Collection" manufactures different kinds of mens and womens clothes, overcoats, but they say they are able to do any of designs. The material they deal with comes from Italy and Germany.
We have already contracted a series of mens sweatshirts to be exported to Swiss stores. Knowing that the standard of living in Mitrovica and Kosovo is generally low, there is no hope that there will be orders from the locals. Nesim Duraku, since the age of 16 went in for tailoring. Due to changes in Kosovo, the factory Polet was closed down, where she has worked for several years. Subsequently she continued her craft with few private owners and recently she started working in "Emini" Company. She is satisfied with working conditions, and because her performance and as well of other employees is assessed by the managers. "As for salary I still have not completed one month of work to get paid, but I believe it is better than in other places, though our needs are great".
Duraku lives with her elder parents and a sick brother. Apart from receiving old age pensions, which do not nearly meet the needs of the elderly, the only source remains to be her monthly salary. Rustem Abiti, head of the Regional Unit of Chamber of Commerce in Mitrovica, said that the opening of any new business is positive, especially in Mitrovica, which unfortunately is among the poorest regions in Kosovo. "This is a good step, besides the business development that affects economic development; certainly it affects the employment of people, thus reducing unemployment rate". However Emin Behrami, is a fashion designer who was professionally qualified in Switzerland like his nephew Pėrparim, who works in Switzerland but as well in the Mitrovica company.