Glass producer in Kosovo achieves market growth through SME competitiveness programme

BusinessSouth-East European INDUSTRIAL Мarket - issue 4/2020 • 05.11.2020

Glass producer in Kosovo achieves market growth through SME competitiveness programme

Termopan, a small glass company in Kosovo specialised in variety of glass products – from decorative panels to doors or windows, invests in modernization of its equipment and operations with the support of EBRD and the European Union. “We started our activities almost 30 years ago, in 1992. At first we established our small family business and carried out a limited number of activities, mainly glass cutting and processing”, explains Gezim Zhdrella, the sole owner of Termopan.

Thanks to hard work, the company steadily expanded its services and operations. Its variety of products and unique designs has brought fame to the company.

Today, Termopan is a well-known brand amongst its clients and competitors. To achieve further business growth and competitiveness in the local market, as well as expand regionally the company has to invest in high quality and standards.

Together with the European Union, the EBRD is helping SMEs in the Western Balkans through its SME Competitiveness Programme. The Bank will provide up to EUR 70 million in new credit lines to partner financial institutions for on-lending to local businesses in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The EU is complementing these funds with EUR 15 million to identify and verify the best available equipment and technologies to ensure that SMEs increase their competitiveness, support the shift towards a green economy and expand trade capacity through compliance with EU environmental, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety standards. The local partner financial institution of EBRD in the case of Termopan is ProCredit Bank. The programme was recently expanded to increase support for companies following the coronavirus pandemic.

“We invested in a production line for two key products in the industry – tempered glass, a type of processed safety glass that is about four times more resistant than conventional glass, and coloured glass. This considerably increased our competitive advantage in the market to boost our sales”, explains Gezim.

These investments enabled the company to increase its productivity, replace old technology with environmentally friendly one and enhance quality, as well as improve health and safety standards. Compared to the consumption prior to the modernisation, Termopan now saves 686 MWh of energy annually or 23,2% of its previous energy needs. The improvements also allowed the company to find the best solution to meet EU directives on construction products, waste, machinery and electrical equipment. “The investment gave us the little push we needed to grow and expand regionally. Now we can keep focusing on what we do best: combining quality products and unique designs to make spaces as beautiful as possible”, Gezim concludes.

 

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