IG Heritage

The action plan (TAPE) builds on the previous results and projects of the Ister-Granum EGTC Local Products Programme launched in 2012, which aims to create a cross-border local products network, a kind of cluster, and through this to develop the economy of the Euroregion, improve its labour market and strengthen regional identity.

As a result of the action plan, not only will the market of the cross-border area be unified and developed, but the development programme started by the Ister-Granum EGTC in 2012 will also be targeted, improving the visibility and identity of the region.

Objective:

The action plan aims to contribute mainly to improve the employment situation on the Slovak side, through the rediscovery of local heritage and the development and marketing of products based on this heritage, which implies a gentle use of the landscape.

TAPE’s specific objectives are:

• improving the operating conditions of local producers,
• strengthening the cross-border integration of the local products market.

Activities:

1. To increase the capacity of local producers through the acquisition of equipment and the development of new services

2. Improving marketing conditions

3. regional branding and image building

Project elements:

• CCP – Coordination and Communication

Partnership: Ister-Granum EGTC

Results:

● EGTC is responsible for the coordination and overall communication of the five projects of the Action Plan. It assists the partners in their relations with each other and with the Managing Authority, in administrative tasks and in solving legal and technical issues. 

The project section has its own page: CCP – Coordination and communication

• Delivery – Developing regional processing and retail capacity

Partnership: Natur products Németh s.r.o. (Ipeľský Sokolec, SK), Börzsöny-Duna-Ipoly Rural Development Association (Szob, HU)

Results:

● The project will significantly increase the capacity of the honey and fruit processing plant of Natur Products s.r.o.

● BDIVE will establish 2 new reception points (in Letkés) next to the existing one in Szob, which will make healthy local products more easily available to local residents (especially the elderly)

● BDIVE will organise 5 workshops to raise consumer awareness and educate them about the value of local products, and increase the knowledge base on organic farming in the area

• Sales – Improving the sales infrastructure for local products

Partnership: Municipality of Štúrovo (SK), Esztergom Environmental Culture Association (Esztergomi Környezetkultúra Egyesület – EKOKU, HU)

Results:

● Opening of the VIZA Centre (House of the Region) in Štúrovo

● EKOKU will further develop the services provided to the local shopping community and producers of Kiskosár by renovating the old building in Esztergom and creating a new product reception and sensory centre

● the investments will expand the network of local markets and increase the number of potential consumers

• Sales 2.0 – Improving the sales infrastructure for local products

Partnership: Municipalities of Svodín (SK), Nagymaros (HU), Bajót (HU)

Results:

● In the municipality of Svodín, the country house and the associated building complex will be renewed, making it suitable to host the local farmers’ market.

● In Nagymaros, the local produce market does not have modern bathrooms. To this end, the water closet of the culture house will be renewed and will be open to the market’s customers

● A local product market will be established in Bajót. A community space will be created that will also be able to host other events

• Brand – Cross-border branding

Partnership: Ister-Granum EGTC

Results:

● Ister-Granum EGTC has a local trademark, which will be marketed and registered in Slovakia within the project. In addition to this, shelves and stands for the presentation and sale of local products will be purchased and placed at markets, events and in the shops of selected contracted partners.

● Ister-Granum EGTC will develop a web portal and an application within the project. The main objective is to enable direct contact with the producers, not only for direct customers but also for the catering sector

• Wine_LAB – Developing services to support local winemakers in the region

Partnership: Municipality of Mužla (SK), Szivek cellar (Kesztölc, HU)

Results:

● A wine laboratory will be established in the municipality of Muzsla. The laboratory will be equipped with an analyser capable of identifying 43 different parameters, allowing producers to label and bottle their own wine based on the results of the analyses carried out. A weather forecasting system will be installed in several locations in the region. The aim of the service is to forecast the adverse effects of weather changes on viticulture.

● The Szivek winery property and cellar will be renovated. Wine samples from Hungarian winemakers will be collected in the renovated cellar in Kesztölc and transported once a week to the wine laboratory in Muzla for analysis.

● In addition, workshops on winemaking are organised in the renovated cellar. These involve experts who share their knowledge on how to achieve higher quality and quantity in wine production.

Press conference:

The project is co-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund.