The Moroccan-Tunisian group RioFresh, which specializes in supplying fresh produce to supermarkets, relocated part of its operations to Montenegro at the beginning of this year, announced Fatma Zramdini, the company's CEO. A few months into this venture, Zramdini looks back on the successes and difficulties of working in Montenegro.
"We chose to invest in Montenegro because of the excellent production conditions in the country and its enormous commercial potential. It's true that Montenegro's domestic market is limited in itself, but the country's geographical location in the Balkans and at the gateway to Europe is very promising. Our new operations in Montenegro consist of 40 ha of land, dedicated to the production of alfalfa, onions, potatoes, watermelons, melons, or other fruit and vegetables according to demand, as well as 21 greenhouses dedicated to strawberry production."
However, working in Montenegro is not without its obstacles for the North African group. "We found great challenges in supplying the manpower. We tried several times, in vain, to bring in farm workers from Bangladesh, Egypt, or Nepal, but due to the country's migration policy, all visa applications were rejected. We found a solution through Albanian workforce for this year."
On the commercial side, Zramdini says, "We have already succeeded in supplying Montenegrin supermarkets such as Voli, Lakovic, and Idea. Our Group is recognized for its agricultural expertise and its 10-year experience in working with leading retail and restaurant chains in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, such as Futaim, Carrefour, Lulu, and Danube".
Zramdini adds: "Our strawberry production in Montenegro is already operational. At the current stage of the project, we are planning to launch the production of potatoes, onions, and alfalfa, destined for the European market. To this end, we have equipped 20 ha with pivot irrigation systems, directed by our partner Mohammad Alsanea, a leader in Kuwait's agribusiness sector. We are currently receiving and studying partnership offers from Montenegrin companies, and are still open to receiving any, as far as they include technology transfer and financial and commercial expertise."
For more information:
Fatma Zramdini
RioFresh
Tel.: +216 97 462 459
Email: [email protected]
www.riofreshfruits.com
