Fushë Kosovë, 19 September, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, today visited the Ministry of Community and Return headed by Minister Nenad Rashić, on the occasion of signing the contracts of the beneficiaries of the call for business support within measure 1.9 of the Economic Revival Package.
Before the signing ceremony, he together with the Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Arbër Vokrri and the Advisor to the Prime Minister for Non-Majority Communities Affairs, Elizabeth Gowing, were received by Minister Rashić in his office, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of this Ministry. Mevlud Sinani, and the Deputy Minister of Economy, Radoica Radoimirović.
Prime Minister Kurti said that it is an honor and a pleasure for him that, five months after the agreement on the drafting of the support package for non-majority communities worth 3 million euros, they came together in such an important ceremony with the various beneficiaries who are here to work and to contribute to economic development, civil society and well-being for all.
“From will to idea. From idea to decision. From the decision to the result, to a tangible result that increases the well-being of our citizens. Such is our government. Of the will of the citizens, for their well-being”, said Prime Minister Kurti, who announced that through this package, 57 Civil Society Organizations have benefited in advance, which will engage in the realization of social and cultural projects, while within the framework of with the same package, 103 farmers were supported with modern agricultural tools.
“The three pillars of the support package have been designed in time so that they generate opportunities for work practice, skills development, employment, production and ultimately well-being for non-majority communities of our Republic,” he added.
The Prime Minister thanked Minister Rashiq and his team for the very important work they are doing and proving that those who integrate live better and are freer, even when they face challenges.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
I was prime minister last year as well, but this work and this result needs a minister like Nenad Rashiq so that it can be realized.
Dear Minister for Communities and Return, Nenad Rashiq,
Dear Deputy Ministers Mevlud Sinani, Radoica Radomirovic, and Arbër Vokrri,
Dear Councilor Elizabeth Gowing,
Dear Deputy Secretary General, Vedat Maxhuni,
Dear representatives of the business community benefiting from this package and civil society,
Dear participants,
It is an honor and pleasure for me that we are joining together in such an important ceremony when the package of 3 million euros will be distributed to the various beneficiaries who are here to work and contribute to economic development, civil society and welfare for all.
In April, I, Deputy Prime Minister Emilja Rexhepi, Minister Nenad Rashiq, and the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, held a joint meeting at the Prime Minister’s office. There we agreed on the new support package for non-majority communities in the country.
3 million euros was the anticipated value of this package, which would contain support measures for:
– New jobs for existing and new businesses;
– Farmers and small producers in rural areas;
– Civil society that contributes to the integration and affirmation of non-majority communities.
Tomorrow will be five months from that meeting, and today we are here to sign contracts with 99 beneficiaries of the call for business support. From will to idea. From idea to decision. From the decision to the result, to a tangible result that increases the well-being of our citizens. Such is our government. Of the will of the citizens, for their well-being.
From the same package, 57 civil society organizations have previously benefited, which will engage in the realization of social and cultural projects, while 103 small farmers have been supported with modern agricultural equipment.
The three pillars of the support package are designed in time to generate opportunities for work practice, skills development, employment, production and ultimately well-being for non-majority communities of our Republic.
In addition, last year, the Ministry of Communities and Returns financed 123 projects for small businesses and start-ups for non-majority communities, of which 48 were for the Serb community in Kosovo.
Non-majority communities account for 17% of the Ministry of Economy’s subsidies for efficient equipment, as part of our energy efficiency measures, while 9% of paid interns through the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers’ “Kosovo Generation Unlimited” program come from ranks of non-majority communities, this representative percentage in relation to the entire population.
Meanwhile, in the state budget for municipalities with a Serbian majority in 2023, a total of 149 capital projects have been budgeted, amounting to 12.35 million euros.
Our approach is holistic. We aim for well-being for all through policies that are inclusive. So it means that inclusiveness is our approach.
Finally, I want to thank Minister Rashiq and his team for the very important work they are doing and proving that those who integrate live better and are freer, even when they face challenges.
Thank you very much and you blessed priests!
Last modified: September 20, 2023