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Kruja

The AADF chose the city of Kruja, the most visited city in Albania for the establishment of the first TID in order to help promote tourism and to ensure preservation of cultural heritage resources. The project will focus on the the restoration of the buildings in the Old Bazaar including roofs, facades, lighting and signage, underground works and improvement of cobblestones. The AADF will provide advisory services and grants to businesses operating in the area as well as institutional support. A TID association has already been created by the AADF, Ministry of Culture, Municipality of Kruja and business owners from the Bazaar. Its objectives will be to promote as well as manage the TID area. Promotional activities will also be carried out for locally produced foods and other goods in and around the city.

"The AADF gives me the chance to watch my dream become a reality, there is no better feeling than coming to work each day to implement projects that make Albania a better place." Oltion Dervishi, Entrepreneurship Manager

Latest Updates View All Project News

  • 11.25.2017

    Interior design of Kruja Old Bazar shops

    Interior design of Kruja Old Bazar shops

    Following the investments in Kruja Old Bazar, AADF is currently financing the interior design for shops located in the Old Bazar. Project targets 10 shops with the majority being craftsmen, 3 of which are already finalized. The project aims to be completed within 2017.

    Detailed description

  • 10.11.2017

    “Mosaic Kruja” at New Bazaar in Tirana

    “Mosaic Kruja” at New Bazaar in Tirana

    On 11th of October, The Albanian American Development Foundation (AADF) sponsored and organized a promotional one-day event named “Kruja Mosaic” in co-operation with Municipality of Kruja, Municipality of Tirana, TID Kruja and TID Tirana business associations, as well as the RDA 2. The event was organized in the context of AADF continuous support to the promotion and development of TID business associations and areas.

    The collaboration between TID associations aims to exchange and promote the touristic offer of the areas where they operate as well as contribute to their social and economic revitalization. Throughout the day there were many activities organized in Tirana’s Bazaar, from cultural and social events, to artisans’ and food fair to promote Kruja’ s offer in Tirana.

    Moreover, the AADF Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Michael Granoff presented with the Mayor of Tirana Mr. Erion Veliaj and Mrs. Eglantina Gjermeni, Member of the Albanian Parliament, an artistic installation – a symbol of the transformation effort at the Tirana’s Bazaar made by ADDF and its partners. The presentation was attended by the AADF Board of Trustees, the Co-CEOs of AADF, representatives from the Government and Municipality as well as members from the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana.

    The evening concluded with a fashion show “Artisan’s Fashion Night” with the purpose to promote the products produced by the artisans of Kruja using traditional techniques, while experimenting with modern designs, created by the talented fashion designer Gerta Oparaku.

    Detailed description

  • 07.27.2017

    Board Meeting, TID Kruja Association

    Board Meeting, TID Kruja Association
    On 25th of July, BID Kruja Association organized the Board Meeting. The meeting was attended by representatives of Kruja Municipality, the businesses representatives in the area and the representatives from AADF. During the meeting, the parties discussed and approved the work plan, plan of activities for the month and other operational issues of Association.

    Later on, a meeting was held in Kruja Bazaar, to assess with architects and Culture heritage Expert the proposed interior design intervention, in some shops in the Old Bazaar supported by AADF as well.

  • 07.26.2017

    Reconstruction of Public Toilets at Old Bazaar, Kruja

    Reconstruction of Public Toilets at Old Bazaar, Kruja

    The project “Restoration and Revitalization of Old Bazaar in Kruja” is being funded by the Albanian-American Development Foundation. Following this intervention, AADF in cooperation with Kruja Municipality, has finalized the architectural project for the reconstruction of public toilets in the Old Bazaar in Kruja and currently construction works are ongoing for the completion of this project.

    Detailed description

  • 02.17.2017

    TID Kruja Assembly Meeting

    TID Kruja Assembly Meeting

    On 15 February 2017 BID Kruja Association organized an Assembly Meeting. The meeting was attended by representatives of Kruja Municipality, the businesses association in this zone and the representatives from AADF. During the meeting, the parties discussed and approved the actual budget for the year 2016, the draft budget for the year 2017 and the strategic plan for the year 2017 – 2018, there were also approved a few amendments to the statute, and it was elected a new board with 4 representatives of various businesses.

    Later on, a meeting was held in the Kruja Bazaar to assess in advance with some architects the situation of the shops inside.

    Detailed description

     

  • 01.20.2017

    Participation of TID Kruja Craftsman in CMT Stuttgart fair

    Participation of TID Kruja Craftsman in CMT Stuttgart fair

    Members of TID Kruja participated in the international tourism fair organized from CMT Stuttgart during the period January 13-18 2017. During their stay, there were exposed craft products and production techniques, which are a characteristic of artisans from Kruja Bazaar. The participation of TID Kruja members in the fair was sponsored from the AADF and the Albanian National Agency for Tourism (AKT).

    Detailed description

  • 12.22.2016

    “Artizanët e Krujës” Project

    “Artizanët e Krujës” Project

    On December 20, 2016, AADF Co-CEOs, Mr. Aleksandër Sarapuli and Mr. Martin Mata, and Minister for Urban Development, Mrs. Eglantina Gjermeni, were presented with the results so far of the project “Artizanët e Krujës”, financed from the AADF and implemented from the Cultural Heritage without Borders Albania (CHwB Albania). They also got familiar with the products developed from the artisans through this project. Following, the invitees participated in the fashion show “Traditional Costumes Fashion Day” organized from TID Kruja Association and co-financed by AADF. The fashion event occurred in “Gjergji Kastrioti Skënderbeu” national museum, where were exhibited traditional costumes from the region of Kruja, and new modern costumes, with Albanian traditional motifs, designed from Mrs. Gerta Oparaku and handmade fashion apparel by the artisans of Kruja Bazaar.

    Detailed description

  • 11.03.2016

    TID Kruja Study Tour in Shkodra and Sarajevo

    TID Kruja Study Tour in Shkodra and Sarajevo

    More than 25 artisans from Kruja Bazaar participated in a five day study tour in Shkodra and Sarajevo. They visited the artisan shop of Mjeda family in Shkodra, more than three artisan associations in Sarajevo, who originally use felt and wool for their handmade products, and also participated in a guided tour of the city of Sarajevo. The study tour, financed from AADF, is part of the Artisan project implemented from the Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) Foundation in Albania.

    Detailed description

  • 02.19.2016

    TID Kruja Update Meeting

    TID Kruja Update Meeting

    A meeting took place between Minister of Urban Development, Ms. Eglantina Gjermeni, Mayor of Kruja, Mr. Artur Bushi and the AADF Co-CEOs, Mr. Martin Mata and Mr. Aleksander Sarapuli. The TID Kruja project was the focus of the discussion with a focus on the completion of the first restoration phase sponsored by the AADF. The cooperation between stakeholders was evaluated and the next steps of the collaboration were discussed.

    The meeting continued with discussions which included members of the TID Kruja Association regarding progress made and concrete goals for the support and consolidation of the TID association. A presentation was given by the Cultural Heritage without Borders organization addressing the 13-month consultancy which would be offered to bazaar artisans in Kruja in order to help improve the quality of their products.

    A trip was taken to the TID zone in the Old Bazaar to see the artisanal work of the vendors and to learn about recent developments in the area.

    The AADF is currently implementing the other components of the project including: consultancy services for artisans of Kruja to increase their capacity for producing local products, small grants for purchasing equipment to produce local products, an informational office for tourists, signage for tourists and security cameras in the Bazaar are, and support of strengthening the TID Kruja association.

    Detailed description

     

  • 04.14.2015

    Inauguration of the Renovation of the Kruja Bazaar TID

    Inauguration of the Renovation of the Kruja Bazaar TID

    The inauguration ceremony for the end of construction work at the Kruja Bazaar TID was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi, Minister of Urban Development, Eglantina Gjermeni, Mayor of Kruja, Shkëlzen Hoxha and AADF Chairman, Michael Granoff. With more than 100,000 visitors each year, the city of Kruja was the perfect city for a TID project which would help increase the commercial value of its cultural heritage assets. The infrastructure portion of the project focused on the renovation of roofs, facades, cobble-stoned streets, and improved street lighting in the Kruja Bazaar.