Malisheva: Fertile Land in the Heart of Kosovo

The Municipality of Malisheva (also known as Llapusha) is a fertile, attractive city and collection of villages covering over 306 sq km along the Mirusha River in central Kosovo. Known by residents as the ‘Heart of Kosovo’ for its location in the centre of the country, Malisheva was officially established as a municipality in 1960 for five years, and then re-established from 1986 until 1992 and again in 1999.

Malisheva has a long history dating back to the Illyrian period, but today it is a thriving agricultural centre with an ethnically diverse population of 70,000 people, around 65% of them young. Mayor Isni Kilaj and Deputy Mayor Rexhep Mazreku lead Malisheva’s government and have launched a number of projects to improve the municipality’s infrastructure and services, including building a new park along the Mirusha River.

Agriculture, trade and tourism

Malisheva has long been known for its fertile soil and temperate continental climate, and agriculture is the main economic activity. Malisheva’s location in the centre of the country is an added advantage since local farmers can easily access markets all over the country. The Mirusha River provides reliable irrigation for agricultural enterprises.

To support the private sector, the municipality has built a modern trade centre and an industrial zone, and in 2010, Malisheva was chosen as one of two municipalities in Kosovo to host vocational education and training centres financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Two new schools, each budgeted at around €6 million, are designed to be centres of competence which will boost Kosovo’s economic development. The one in Malisheva focusses on commerce, administration and trade.

Malisheva municipality is also known for the great natural beauty of its fertile river valley surrounded by the rugged Drenica Mountains. Malisheva is also the site of some of Kosovo’s top tourism attractions, including Ilixha thermal springs in the village of Baje, Flladi Cave in Panor, Mirusha Falls in Llapqeva, the ancient Arabaxhi Bridge in Bubël, the Berisha Mountains in Berisha, Illyrian tombs in Malisheva City, and many other sites.

Malisheva has privatised most of its public enterprises, including NPB.Mirusha, a leader in the agriculture sector. The municipality now has around 820 registered private businesses, most of them small, which employ a total of around 1,200 people. Around 46% of these companies are involved in trade. Malisheva municipality welcomes foreign investors, particularly in trade, agriculture and tourism projects.