Network 'Land of Psiloritis'

GEOGRAPHICAL NETWORK "LAND OF PSILORITIS"

The mount of Psiloritis is located in Central Crete and it covers the western section of the Irakliou Prefecture and the eastern section of the Rethymnou Prefecture.

It is one of the most impressive and beautiful mountain ranges of Crete, with a multitude of geomorphological, cultural, financial and social features which give the wider region a special, particular identity.

The effort to preserve this special identity, showcase it and make use of it in a collective way and with coordinated actions which will have the final aim of promoting and boosting the farm holiday product, has led the bodies and the entrepreneurs who are active in the region to create a geographical network called the “LAND OF PSILORITIS GEOGRAPHICAL NETWORK”.

This network has been set up in the legal form of an S.A. which groups together about 60 bodies and businesses from all the sectors of the local financial activity (e.g. cheese-dairies, makers, cooperatives, farm-holiday accommodation, cultural bodies, restaurants etc., artisanships, etc.).

The motive for the setting up of the “Land of Psiloritis S.A.” network was the Operational Programme of the LEADERPLUS EU Initiative, which co-funded the network’s setup and creation expenses as well as the actions for its promotion.

Also, the network is supported through the cooperation of the Development Centre of the Mylopotamos and Malevizi Mountainous Regions, i.e. “AKOMM-PSILORITIS Local Government S.A.”.

The “Land of Psiloritis S.A.” geographical network has the strategic aim of gradually expressing all the financial activities of the wider Psiloritis region, with actions such as:

• The provision of technical support and consulting services to its members on issues of product- and service- accreditation, of promoting and boosting themselves, as well as the carrying out of market research.
• The showcasing of local goods through their participation to e-commerce, to exhibitions, with the organised selling and with the development of new tourist services.
• The cooperation of the network with individual local bodies and groups in order to undertake pilot and innovative actions, such as the establishment of a local trademark for the quality of products and services - which has been an immediate target for the company, is put to action with the cooperation of “AKOMM-PSILORITIS Local Government S.A.” through actions of the local LEADERPLUS programme and through inter-state cooperations implemented in the aim of know-how and experience transfer.