Australian Ambassador visited Pirot

As a continuing effort to engage local traditions and culture into local economic development, a visit to the municipality of Pirot was arranged and attended by representatives of NALED, Ethno Network, the Australian Embassy and the Embassy of Austria.

Following the earlier visit to Sombor, Ambassador of Australia Julia Feeney met with the Mayor of Pirot Mr. Vladan Vasic. In the opening session of the meeting the Mayor Belgrade acquainted the delegation with the development potential of Pirot, with a special focus on brands that are characteristic of the municipality, such as Pirot rugs, ironed sausage and home-made cheese. Given the experience of Pirot in the improvement and promotion of traditional brands with a focus on the preservation of rug-making, it was agreed to establish cooperation with the City of Sombor to share best practices in the revitalization of Stapar rugs and allow for joint promotion of the regional brands as elements of government protocol.

After a visit to the city hall, the delegation led by the Mayor went to the Free Zone Pirot where executives presented the development and the results of the Zone, as well as the vision of further development and engaged in the discussion on possible cooperation.

Then the delegation proceeded to the local craft cooperative \'Lady\'s Heart\', which is dedicated to the hand-making of Pirot rugs and that worked with the Municipality of Pirot to finally earn a GI for Pirot rug with its 95 patterns. Director of the Cooperative Slavica Ciric presented a development path of the cooperative and the process of rug-making.

At the end of the visit the delegation with family members visited the Regional museum and saw the inside of the house owned by a once-famous local merchant called Little Rista, that is equipped with authentic pieces of pottery, Pirot rugs and customs related to this region.

At the end of the visit, it was agreed to arrange the next meeting in September in order to sign a protocol on