Regional development strategy - RDA South

REGIONAL SWOT ANALYSIS 3OpportunitiesThreatsO1. Strategic geographic position; good roadconnections, highway to Albania and sea ports,highway in Kosovo going through the RegionSouthO2. Young population with good level of educationO3. Availability of Grant Schemes from EuropeanCommission and other international donorsO4 Possibility to use renewable sources of energyO5. Irrigation system in most of the regional fieldsappropriate for high quality productionO6. Diverse cultural heritage as an advantage fordevelopment of tourismO7. Attractive sites for construction of newrecreational and sport facilitiesO8. Entrepreneurial spirit of local businessmenO9. Existence of Diaspora with resources to investin the regionO10. Climate conditions very favourable forcultivation of high quality cropsO11. Development of new initiatives within thecross-border cooperationO12. High potential for development of ski centresin Sharri mountain with ski slopes appropriatefor development of winter sportsO13. Development of Private Universities andestablishment of Public University in Prizren,to support development activitiesO14. Natural park, reservations and protected zonesO15. Good conditions for livestock development andbreeding (cattle and sheep)O16. Good market opportunities and exportpossibilities taking into account free tradeunder the CEFTA agreementT1. Irregular supply with electric power, inadequatetechnical condition of power infrastructureT2. Environmental degradationT3. Air pollution, pollution of riversT4. Lack of development fundsT5. Non-efficiency of courts and law enforcementbodiesT6. Lack of financial supportT7. Ineffective fiscal collectionT9. Unfair competition – uncontrolled importsT10. Underdeveloped physical infrastructureT11. Inadequate availability of funding for agricultureT12. Lack of censusT13. Uncontrolled migrations from rural to urbanareasT14. Lack of implementation of spatial planningT15. Enormous increase of the number of vehiclesT16. Global crisis affecting exports and remittancesT17. Youth leaving abroadThe SWOT analysis clearly showed a widerange of weaknesses in the economic structureof the region and particularly in thebusiness support structure. But it was genuinelydifficult to identify any one factor orset of factors as being more important than others.However when considering strengths and opportunitiesit was widely agreed that two sectors in particularhave both existing assets and the potential to be developedfurther: these are agriculture/food-processingand tourism.REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE ECONOMIC REGION SOUTH25