Prishtina, 20 December, 2023
Organized by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship, the annual conference was held, in which the Strategy for Industrial Development and Support Instruments for Businesses were presented.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, during his speech at this conference, said that the commitment and dedication of our government to support our enterprises has been further strengthened with the first Strategy for Industrial Development and Business Support 2030, approved by government this year.
During this year, the support for the manufacturing industry with exports has increased significantly and the Government of Kosovo has supported the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund, the support given to businesses within the economic revival package, with measure 2.1, subsidizing investment loans. As a result, he emphasized that the ratio of exports to imports has improved from 1 to 9 as it was to 1 to 6 as it currently is, where the value of goods in export for the period January-November 2023 reached 756.9 million or 139% more than in 2019, which is the last pre-pandemic year. Also, the prime minister mentioned the level of employment in the private sector, which has increased through subsidies for businesses, through measure 1.8 “Government for Families” and measure 1.3 “Support for employment of women”, and the employment platform for young people under the age of 25 year, SuperPuna.
The Prime Minister added that we have laid the steps and foundations for the consolidation of the long-term and sustainable progress of the country, but our development potential sometimes goes beyond the forecasts.
“Kosovo is the country of young people and new opportunities, progress and hope. All economic indicators are more than just numbers and statistics, which I mentioned earlier. They are the starting point of a bright future and a long-term journey towards public good, equal distribution and a more inclusive society. Because the government and our common governance is for everyone, leaving no one behind,” he said.
Thanking everyone for the commitment, the contribution they have made with their enterprises, in the difficulties we know and do not know, the Prime Minister said the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is an infrastructure, it is a helpful platform for the development, growth and profit of the private sector in the Republic of Kosovo, which carries the main burden of employment in society and our country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, said that this year, beyond numerous challenges, has been accompanied by tangible results, which have had a direct impact on the environment of doing business, the development of industrial and commercial policies, development of entrepreneurship and innovation, market surveillance, support of local producers and promotion and support of investments and exports.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Ms. Rozeta Hajdari, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade,
Dear, Mrs. Alyson Grunder, deputy ambassador of the United States of America in Kosovo,
Dear representatives of the diplomatic choir,
Dear Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Kosovo,
The honorable Mr. Agron Llugaliu, General Director of Kosovo Customs,
The honorable Mr. Ilir Murtezaj, Director General of the Tax Administration of Kosovo,
The honorable Mr. Besnik Berisha, General Director of the Kosovo Loan Guarantee Fund,
Dear Ms. Valbona Dushi, Director of the Department of Industry and
The honorable Mr. Zef Dedaj, Acting General Director at KIESA,
Dear Members of Parliament, Deputy Ministers,
Dear representatives of businesses in various industrial, manufacturing and processing sectors,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentleman,
It is a pleasure to be with you today, and here in front of you at the annual conference of the Ministry of Industry, Enterprise and Trade, to mark our joint work and successes, in the sustainable socio-economic and environmental development of our country.
As a little more than two-thirds of the governing mandate has passed, we reflect on the work done and the results achieved through concrete and tangible actions for the private sector and enterprises in Kosovo.
Our Government’s commitment and dedication to supporting our enterprises has been further strengthened with the first Strategy for Industrial Development and Business Support 2030, approved by the government this year. It provides a strategic policy framework to support the manufacturing industry in our country.
Our vision of Kosovo’s Industrial Policy is that of a more globally integrated industry, which is able to produce value-added products and provide decent employment. With our development policies, we are increasing the country’s economy and supporting citizens, businesses and entrepreneurs in the industrial and productive sectors like never before.
During this year, the support for the manufacturing industry with exports has increased significantly. The Government of Kosovo has supported the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund with 22.6 million euros, where 705 loans of 638 businesses have been guaranteed, in the amount of 45.9 million euros. Of these businesses, 12% of them have women owners. As for the distribution of loans, 58% are in the productive industrial sectors with export potential, which have added 1,322 new jobs and contributed to an increase in annual turnover by 43 million euros.
Meanwhile, as part of the economic revival package, with measure 2.1 – Subsidizing investment loans, we supported 218 businesses in the value of 6.6 million euros this year, while in the last two years, a total of 450 businesses were subsidized in the value of 12.4 million euros.
We increased the level of employment in the private sector through subsidies for businesses. From measure 1.8 “Government for Families”, during the period January-October 2023, 1,365 job seekers were mediated and since the beginning of the scheme, 2,377 families have benefited. 656 women have benefited from Measure 1.3 “Support for employment of women”, whose salary has been subsidized for six months in a row.
Through the “Superpuna” platform, 8,496 workers were employed, in total 6,401 businesses. All businesses mediated through the “Superpuna” platform are subsidized the wages of their employees for six months in a row.
From the “Kosovo Generation Unlimited” scheme, 656 young people have benefited, who are engaged in 166 different businesses, and for girls in STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, this year we distributed 1,882 scholarships, and since 2021, in total there are 4,630 scholarships.
Through the active measure of the labor market “Professional Qualification”, 2,660 job seekers have benefited, who have been trained in various trades such as carpentry, hairdressing and construction.
And when it comes to professional training and education and training for the labor market in our country, with the help of our emigrants, we have connected the labor market with professional education, expanding the dual education program to 12 profiles from the previous 4 in the last year. So, 12 profiles in 21 schools, in 14 municipalities across Kosovo. The connection between the labor market and vocational education is vital for the economy and society of our country, so we are making this a reality.
We have redistributed economic growth and tax revenues to the citizens, so we have not kept it for the state, especially in the face of inflation and the energy crisis, where citizens and businesses benefited from subsidies.
Businesses everywhere have thanked us for the affordable prices of electricity, which they had even during the period of the multiple crisis in our continent, reflected of course also in our country.
Through the CERP Program for export support with grants, we have financed 147 businesses in technology advancement, certification, training and digitization. Even from the KIESA agency this year alone, we have allocated around 13.6 million euros, in support of businesses for increased export and promotion of goods and services.
For the first time in the Republic of Kosovo, the budget for 2024 amounts to 3 billion and 314 million euros, and next year is the first year when the gross domestic product of Kosovo will have a double-digit number of billions, that is, it will exceed 10 billion.
The ratio of exports to imports has improved approximately 1 to 9 to better than 1 to 6, where the value of goods in export for the period January-November 2023 reached 756.9 million or 139% more than in 2019, which is the year the last pre-pandemic.
Therefore, it is no coincidence that the economy of our country is stronger than ever before, despite the many barriers and challenges, both for businesses and for families and citizens, which you, as well as I, know I believe even better than I do.
As a government, we are committed to creating an environment for doing business, which will make our Republic of Kosovo a more competitive destination in Southeast Europe.
Our progress in the field of justice has contributed to the strengthening of economic development, and along with it, the climate for doing business has also improved. In this regard, the establishment and functioning of the Commercial Court increases legal security for local businesses, as well as encourages foreign investments.
Talented youth, the economic growth of exports and tax revenues, low public debt, the treatment of foreign investors, the Commercial Court, institutional and macro-economic stability and that of stable fiscal policies, provide a favorable environment for investment and doing business in Kosovo.
With the approval of the Draft Law on the Sovereign Fund of the Republic of Kosovo, we will further strengthen the country’s public enterprises and bring a new cycle of investments, connecting Kosovo to the world financial markets and raising and increasing the circulation of investment capital for the entire economy of the country.
As the Government, we have laid the steps and foundations for the consolidation of the long-term and sustainable progress of the country, but our development potential sometimes goes beyond the forecasts. We are breaking barriers and limits, so we must explore together and further our capacities, to find out how much we can still do to contribute to the development of the country.
Kosovo is the land of young people and new opportunities, progress and hope. All economic indicators are more than just numbers and statistics, which I mentioned earlier. They are the starting point of a bright future and a long-term journey towards public good, equal distribution and a more inclusive society. Because our government and shared governance is for everyone, leaving no one behind. As in a business, when the collective of individuals, the organization of workers, together with the management and the owners, contributes to its good functioning, so the state needs the contribution of all of us, of each one of us to move forward, towards a state of welfare, equality and justice, where businesses grow, earn and employ.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the commitment, work, contribution you have made with your enterprises, in difficulties that we know and that we do not know, and I wish and believe that together we will continue our work for the development of the country and the achievement of as many successes as possible in 2024 and beyond.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is infrastructure, it is a helping platform for the development, growth and profit of the private sector in the Republic of Kosovo, which carries the main burden of employment in society and in our country.
Thank you and happy holidays.
Last modified: December 21, 2023