Prishtina, 11 July, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, today held a discussion table with the owners of road construction, where the Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu and the Deputy Minister Hysen Durmishi were also present.
Given that the development of road infrastructure is of vital importance for the country’s economy, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized during this meeting that precisely investments in infrastructure must achieve the mission of being competitive in local investments, but also for participation in the international market.
Due to many projects started years ago and still unfinished, the prime minister spoke about the importance of establishing clear rules of competition, selection and clear definition of mutual obligations, as well as unconditional respect for these obligations.
Thus, it showed that we are in the process of correcting omissions in projects, fixing the issue of properties and increasing commitments in existing projects. Meanwhile, for new projects, we are preparing all the necessary documentation so that the projects do not get stuck.
He mentioned a number of projects with extended deadlines in the implementation of contracts such as:
a. Investments in Drenica (Komoran-Skenderaj road) started in 2014. Due to unresolved problems – not yet completed;
b. Investments in Dukagjin (Dollc-Gjakovë) started in 2019, still unfinished, still with the problem of unselected properties and projects;
c. The investment in the direction of Mitrovica – unprepared and therefore over-extended and still unfinished;
d. Investment in the direction of Gjilan (Highway and not only), unprepared and therefore prolonged;
e. Investments in the direction of Llapi started without expropriations, unfinished.
“We are a government that wants to take a little more time in planning and preparation, so that the execution is quick. No, without preparation and planning, and with prolonged executions”, added the prime minister.
During 2022 and at the beginning of this year, memoranda were signed with 18 municipalities, for 44 projects, which are in contracting processes in road infrastructure.
He called on the Economic Operators currently contracted to increase the capacities engaged in equipment and personnel in the realization of the contracted obligations; to maximally respect the standards, quality/quality of materials and safety at work; to enable the circulation of vehicles through the segments where work is being done, especially during the period of visiting compatriots, and in the segments with high traffic, to use even the night to execute the works.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transport will add support capacities to ensure that the work performed will be paid in the shortest possible time, as well as eventual property problems or others to be resolved in record time.
“As a government, we have set ourselves the goal that the invoices will be paid on time, so as not to cause problems for employers, because we are aware of such problems in the past,” said the prime minister.
Based on the latest data, he added that the second quarter of 2023 has marked the level of 110 million euros in capital investments, which is also the highest level recorded. Compared to the previous year, there is a doubling of the dynamics, which is expected to serve as a positive impulse for the growth of the economy in Q2, higher than in Q1 where real growth was 3.9%.
Prime Minister Kurti, during the discussion, also expressed his willingness to, together with Minister Aliu and Deputy Minister Durmishi, visit the works which are also carried out at night in the summer season.
At the end of the meeting, with the proposal of Prime Minister Kurti, it was agreed that such joint meetings will continue in the future, the next meeting is expected to be held in the fall. Likewise, the Prime Minister expressed his willingness to visit the construction sites that are being carried out, to see the works closely.
The representatives of the construction companies expressed their gratitude for this discussion table, as they gave their positive assessment of the Government’s support through the Law on Public Works Support.
Last modified: July 12, 2023