Pristina, 9 December, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, today participated in the Political Leaders Forum, as part of a series of discussions with candidates for Prime Minister from all major political parties participating in the upcoming elections of the Republic of Kosovo, organized by RIT Kosovo, “The Rochester Institute of Technology Kosovo”.
The Prime Minister said that it is an honor and pleasure to be part of this unique and important program. During his opening remarks and discussion with students, the emphasis was on the nearly four-year governance and the confrontation with unprecedented challenges during the mandate, which include dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the global energy crisis and market disruptions as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggression in Ukraine.
He said that the Government has shown prudence in facing the global crises and challenges that have arisen during its mandate, by drafting and implementing the largest support package for citizens in the Balkans in the face of inflation and the energy crisis as a percentage of GDP, (4.3%), according to the World Bank Report, without creating new debts and continuing to have stable economic growth every year – with an average annual growth of 6.36% of GDP.
Despite these global challenges, Kosovo has recorded economic growth that has been accompanied by an increase in exports, employment, salaries in the public sector, pensions for all categories of pensioners, the minimum wage has increased for the first time in more than a decade, and supportive policies for families have been introduced, such as allowances for young mothers and children, and businesses have been supported, with an emphasis on local producers.
At the same time, great democratic progress has been recorded, thus becoming an example that economic development and democratic progress go hand in hand and proof of the thesis of Nobel laureates in economics, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson who argue in their latest book that democracy clearly benefits economic growth, the provision of public services, and the reduction of inequalities in education, health, and opportunity.
After the initial address, the Prime Minister answered questions from the participating students.
Last modified: December 11, 2024