The speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, at the ceremony of laying the foundation of the hydro plant of Belaja in the Municipality of Deçan
Dear participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo; I welcome you to the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the Hydro plant of Belaja.
Today is a special day for Kosovo, for its citizens, and for the development of our country. Today we are laying the cornerstone the construction of hydro plant of Belaja, with an initial capacity of twenty megawatts, which is the amount of investment of 50 million Euros for the first phase.
This project, this investment is expected to increase at later stages, expanding power generation capacity to 100 megawatts, which implies an amount of investments of 200 million Euros.
During the last year the Government of Kosovo has adopted and has introduced the reformist platform where the private sector has been identified as the engine of economic development.
This foreign investment, of the investors from Austria, demonstrates the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and other local authorities to strengthen the private sector and to attracting foreign investments in the Republic of Kosovo.
This investment demonstrates the progress in improving the institutional and legal infrastructure, as a basis for developing and strengthening the private sector.
Kosovo is now starting to build its generating capacities that are clean, and green, which does not harm the environment.
Kosovo as a new country is a country of great opportunities, especially in the energy sector; therefore, I want to believe that this is only the beginning of foreign investments in the energy sector and will continue further.
The Government of Kosovo and local authorities will do their best that all the capabilities will be put to motion.
Once again, I wish you all the best successes, and I congratulate you all.
Thank you!
In addition, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi has responded to Austrian media interest regarding the creation of conditions for international investment in Kosovo:
The Austrian investment represents an extremely important event for the state of Kosovo. Austria has been one of the first countries that supported the freedom and the efforts of the people of Kosovo for freedom and independence even since the former foreign minister Morg up to this day.
You know that even the negotiations for the independence of Kosovo were held in Vienna, so the citizens of Kosovo are emotionally connected with Austria.
Kosovo is new country, a country of great opportunities, a country of opportunities in energy, mining, agriculture, a ski centre in Brezovica, which is of the most attractive in the region.
I want to believe that this is only the beginning of Austrian investments in the Republic of Kosovo and all investors are welcome.
Kosovo is a new country, stable and safe for investments. All Austrians are welcome.
The arrival of investors themselves to Kosovo means that the image of Kosovo is improving and being fostered. Today Kosovo has investors from the U.S., from all countries of the EU, countries of the region, and also from India and China.
Therefore, we are starting major reforms that will produce concrete results, and the best example is this here.
Last modified: July 31, 2022