Prishtina, November 16, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, yesterday attended the gala evening organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the education program, the Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF).
Among many guests, Prime Minister Kurti was a key speaker at this evening. He said it is a pleasure for him to be among Kosovo’s talented leaders, to celebrate and honor the extraordinary achievements of KAEF and the contribution of each of the fellows to the country’s future.
The Prime Minister stated that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo fully supports the mission of KAEF, recognizing the fact that investing in youth is an investment in the present and future of our country.
Over the past twenty years, KAEF has provided 117 full scholarships for studies at top universities in the United States, thereby establishing a network of professionals who return to Kosovo equipped with valuable skills and a dedication to develop and apply them. KAEF scholarship graduates have spearheaded diverse initiatives in government, the private sector, and international organizations, helping to advance and support the country’s development.
The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Luan Dalipi, along with the Chief of Technology in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, Lulëzon Jagxhiu, are alumni of KAEF.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech in English:
Your Excellency, Atifete Jahjaga, Former President of the Republic of Kosova,
Dear Ms. Lisa Choate, President and CEO at American Councils for International Education,
Dear Mr. Dale Pfeiffer, Founder of Kosova American Education Fund (KAEF),
Dear Mr. Michael E. Hora, Kosova American Education Fund Committee Member,
Dear Ms. Jeta Zagraxha, Kosova American Education Fund Committee Kosova Co-Chair
Dear Mr. Gjeni Shporta, Kosova Country Director, American Councils for International Education,
Dear KAEF Alumni,
Dear participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It’s a pleasure to be here with Kosova’s talented leaders to celebrate 20 years of KAEF’s remarkable work through the Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF). Today, we honor KAEF’s achievements and the contribution each of you brings to Kosova’s future.
For two decades, KAEF has provided full scholarships to top U.S. universities, creating a network of professionals who return to Kosova with valuable skills and a dedication to its growth. KAEF alumni have led initiatives in government, the private sector, and international organizations, helping to drive Kosova’s progress.
With a 11 million dollars investment over 20 years, KAEF has produced 117 graduates who have managed projects worth over 80 million euros, started over 50 businesses, created over 10,000 jobs, and trained over 5,000 people. Beyond these impressive numbers are individuals exemplifying resilience, innovation and leadership—qualities essential to Kosova’s future.
It’s always inspiring to see the skills KAEF alumni bring back to Kosova—especially in critical areas like high level management, strategic and operational planning, from impact- to result- to process- and key-performance indicators…tens of thousands of data rows summarized in just one slick-looking page. For a Prime Minister—or anyone in a senior role dealing with numerous complex issues simultaneously—having capable colleagues to help prioritize and support informed decision-making is invaluable. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside two KAEF alumni in my Cabinet: Chief of Staff Luan Dalipi and Chief Technology Officer, Lulëzon Jagxhiu. And yes, I’ve reviewed my fair share of Excel sheets!
Fun fact with rather serious impact: Public institutions (central and local government, as well as independent institutions) fund thousands of capital projects, with a total annual budget exceeding 900 million euros, over 500 million of which is directly managed by the government. Thanks to a comprehensive monitoring tool and our ability to, as they say, ‘light a fire under the feet’ of government institutions, we increased our capital expenditures by over 20% in 2023 compared to 2022. And it was precisely this last year, 2023 which marked the highest capital expenditures in 2023 in our country’s history, 561 million euros executed.
Our partnership with KAEF and American Councils perfectly aligns with our vision: to be the best in our region across all sectors! I’d like to briefly share what we’ve achieved over nearly four years of governance and highlight some of the opportunities our country offers, so you can share these messages with your international networks.
First, let’s take a high-level look at the global landscape: the COVID-19 pandemic led to supply chain disruptions and higher transportation costs from East Asia to our neighboring EMENA markets (Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa) and the U.S., creating strong opportunities for nearshoring. Additionally, with the unfortunate war in Ukraine out of brutal Russia aggression, friend-shoring has become essential.
Kosova isn’t just a country with vision—it’s a place of institutional stability, national resilience, and socio-economic opportunity. We are fully aligned with the values of the Western world and proud to be the top-ranking country in the Western Balkans for rule of law, political rights and civil liberties.
We lead the Balkans region in GDP growth and investments as a share of GDP. We had a remarkable average GDP growth of 6.2% in the last three years.
Our robust business climate speaks of our commitment to fostering a secure and thriving business environment, as well as – most importantly – speaks of the predictability factor which prospective foreign investors value the most.
Kosova has the lowest public debt in the region, allowing us to borrow more responsibly at lower interest rates. This provides greater flexibility for infrastructure development, leading to a more solid economy and sustainable development—key factors that ultimately build investor confidence.
Over 7 billion euros in public infrastructure development needs, in transport, environment, and energy sectors, and not accounting for Prishtina-Durres Railway, which is estimated to cost around 1.8 billion euros. And, let’s not forget Mediterranean Games 2030, for which we will also spend several hundred EUR millions. We’re particularly focused on sustainable and renewable energy, including initiatives like installing over 1.3 GW of solar and wind power, and a 232 million dollars’ battery project, largely funded by MCC – the largest project globally by capita.
Now, let’s talk business—a competitive environment like no other in the region! That is our Kosova, and here’s what our country offers to businesses:
• Only 10% corporate profit tax
• Personal income tax: Also up to only 10%
• Imports of machinery and raw materials: Zero tax.
• Exports, including IT and AI-enabled services: Zero tax again!
I’ve shared a lot of positive systemic improvements, but I haven’t yet mentioned the most important element of all: our people—especially our youth. And yes, some of our highly educated talents aren’t so young anymore! We call them wise or wiser at least, not old, never old.
We’re a hardworking nation, and with a bit of better planning—and maybe a little help from you! —we have everything we need to reach our highest potential. As KAEF alumni, you’ve gained invaluable skills and insights from top educational institutions worldwide, and you’re bringing those talents home to make a difference in Kosova every day.
Through the KAEF Program, American Councils has played a pivotal role in empowering you—and inspiring future young leaders—to gain the skills needed to drive Kosova’s progress. This partnership has had a profound impact, with KAEF alumni now holding key roles in public institutions, essential organizations, and the private sector, reinforcing our nation and building a strong, responsive state.
Our government wholeheartedly supports KAEF’s mission, recognizing that investing in our youth is investing in Kosova’s present and future. Together, we can cultivate a steady pipeline of skilled, innovative leaders to empower further Kosova’s economy, good governance, and global reputation. We’re eager to continue and expand our collaboration with KAEF and American Councils on this foundation of excellence.
As we celebrate 20 years of KAEF’s achievements, let’s look forward to a future where Kosova thrives through the strength and resilience of its leaders—a future in which each of you continues to play a crucial role in shaping our country and society. Together, we are building a Kosova that stands as a beacon of opportunity, agility, and growth.
Thank you for your dedication, thank you for your vision, and thank you for making Kosova proud.
Let’s continue to build a brighter future for Kosova—together.
To go back to Luan and Lulëzon, both look very happy tonight. Rest assured that the happiness on their faces is not because I am with them, but because they work hard every day at our government for the wonderful people of Kosova.
Thank you.
Last modified: November 19, 2024