Prishtina, May 7, 2025
Organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), a conference entitled “The Role of Universities in Balanced Regional Socio-Economic Development” was held today, in which the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated.
“Universities open the gates of knowledge and nourish our society in all spheres, playing an important role in social organization, policy formulation and scientific research that are used to increase development and advance society” said Prime Minister Kurti in his opening speech.
At this conference, the Prime Minister also spoke about the support from the Government, where for the first time the Draft Law on Balanced Regional Development was approved, for long-term and sustainable development in the regions. On this occasion, he spoke about the approval of the Balanced Regional Development Program 2025-2027, which foresees a series of actions and activities, and within the framework of this program, the Prime Minister mentioned the scheme designed by the Government for the Balanced Regional Development Program, from which, from 2021 to 2024, 901 projects worth around 7 million euros have been supported.
Among other things, regarding state support, he emphasized support through measures such as the Economic Recovery Package to support businesses in accessing finance, support for businesses through subsidizing employee salaries, the Government for Families guaranteed employment scheme, maternity and child allowances, allowances for private and public sector workers and pensioners, electricity subsidy for families and businesses, assistance for families in social assistance and increased support for agriculture.
“We produce together, we stimulate productivity together, and we support the growth of our businesses not only in the domestic market but also in expanding their activities by penetrating major international markets. In this way, we have particularly encouraged young women and men, young entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, to grow further and to contribute positively to the economic life and social progress of our country.” he said.
Prime Minister Kurti concluded his remarks by wishing the organizers and participants fruitful and productive discussions, emphasizing that scientific research and the investigative character of universities and scholars—when functioning effectively in cooperation with local and central institutions—have the potential to generate knowledge, produce ideas, and implement them practically through policies that develop the regions, advance the state, and improve the well-being of all citizens without distinction.
Full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Honorable Mr. Fatmir Sejdiu, former President of the Republic of Kosovo,
Honorable Mr. Fikrim Damka, Minister of Regional Development,
Honorable Mr. Tunç Angılı, Ambassador of Turkey to Kosovo,
Honorable Professor Arben Hajrullahu, Rector of the University of Pristina,
Honorable Professor Uğur Ünal, Rector of Gazi University in Turkey,
Honorable professors and students,
Honorable attendees,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is always a pleasure to participate in conferences where discussions combine knowledge, theory and practice, and the role of institutions in their implementation. Institutions themselves are state and social organisms, which develop their activity in a certain field of economy, education, science, culture, social life or even politics. But institutions of knowledge, educational ones, are the centers from which other institutions originate. Universities open the gates of knowledge and nourish our society in all spheres, playing an important role in social organization, policy formulation and scientific research that are used to increase development and advance society.
Thus, in this conference where the focus is on: “The Role of Universities in Balanced Regional Socio-Economic Development”, we must elaborate and think deeply and long about how the full potential of the knowledge institution should be utilized, to serve society, progressive policies and the construction of a just and equal society, both for our generation and for those who come after us.
As a government, we are precisely for a society where no one is left behind and everyone enjoys the support and patronage of the state. And the initiatives of the last four years of our government have been numerous to push forward the progress of the state by supporting each and every citizen, so that the country develops at rapid pace and society remains as a development engine of a state that advances and from which everyone benefits.
We have approved the Draft Law on Balanced Regional Development for the first time, approved at the 102nd meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, for long-term and sustainable development in the regions. We are committed to finalizing the legal framework and the operationalization of mechanisms for regional development and increasing the level of socio-economic development, and we have recently approved the Balanced Regional Development Program 2025-2027, which foresees a series of actions and activities aimed at building sustainable regions and tangible development for all.
Our government has not stopped there. The results, numbers and statistics show that through our targeted economic policies, we have had an average growth of 6 percent in Gross Domestic Product over the last four years, a doubling of exports, a significant improvement in export-import ratios, namely the reduction of the trade deficit from the ratio of 1 to 9 to 1 to 6 as it is now, more than doubling of foreign investments, an annual state budget now 60% higher than 5 years ago, and of course all these achievements have also brought about an increase in employment and an increase in profits and the expansion of private sector activity, whose turnover has increased by 2/4 in the last 5 years.
We have taken measures such as the Economic Recovery Package to support businesses in accessing finance, support through wage subsidies for workers, the guaranteed employment scheme “Government for Families”, maternity and child allowances, allowances for private and public sector workers and pensioners, electricity subsidies for families and businesses, assistance to families in social assistance and increased support for agriculture, which has resulted in a 50% increase in the amount of agricultural land now being cultivated in Kosovo, compared to four years ago.
Among the schemes designed by the Government, one of them is the Balanced Regional Development Program, from which from 2021 to the year after 2024, 901 projects worth around 7 million euros have been supported. The undertaking of this initiative aims at equitable socio-economic development, through the creation of new jobs and the growth of new and productive businesses, businesses that reinvest their profits.
We produce together, we stimulate productivity together, and we support the growth of our businesses not only in the domestic market but also in expanding their activities by penetrating major international markets. In this way, we have especially encouraged young women and men, new entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized businesses to grow further and contribute positively to the economic life and social progress of our country.
In Kosovo today, as you all know, there are seven development regions. We have much work ahead; to advance the state and to increase productivity and well-being. Scientific research and the exploratory nature of universities and researchers, working efficiently and effectively with local and central institutions, have the potential to stimulate knowledge, generate ideas, and turn them into practice through policies that develop the regions, advance the state, and improve the well-being of citizens without distinction.
Thank you, and I wish you highly productive and fruitful panels and discussions!
Last modified: May 8, 2025