Davos, 22 January 2025
The House of Kosovo in Davos became the home of discussions and discussion panels throughout these days, and today the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, welcomed the economist from Harvard University, Ricardo Hausmann, there in a discussion.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized during the conversation that the four years of our government have been positive, despite the fact that we have faced numerous crises such as the Covid 19 pandemic, energy and inflation. He added that immediately within the first year, work was done to provide vaccines and successfully vaccinate the population, while with the Economic Recovery Package, citizens who saved energy were subsidized and we distributed economic growth to citizens.
“In 2025, the state budget is 50 percent bigger than in 2021, and this comes as a result of our impressive economic growth, which was an average of 6 percent of GDP, never falling below 4 percent of GDP. Kosovo’s economy last year exceeded 10 billion euros for the first time, exports exceeded 1 billion euros, and tax revenues exceeded 3 billion euros.”
He added that our economy expanded and the unemployment rate decreased, falling from around 26 percent to around 11 percent, and in the spring of 2021 we had 350 thousand employees in Kosovo and now we have more than 430 thousand, highlighting the increase in employment, especially for young people and women.
“Kosovo is a good example that economic growth and development go hand in hand with democracy and the rule of law,” said the Prime Minister, adding that the fight against corruption brought growth and freedom brought development: the freedom of citizens and businesses.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of the Free Trade Agreement with the EFTA countries that will be signed today, our country’s aspirations for membership in international organizations, as well as the importance and important role of our diaspora in Switzerland in social life there, but also in the development of Kosovo.
For his part, economist Ricardo Hausmann expressed his honor with the invitation and his happiness to be part of this discussion today. Economist Hausmann emphasized that economic progress relies on an empowered and rights-based population, because rights are essential for citizens to be able to have dreams, even without which there cannot be economic dynamism. He also underlined the importance of the experience and expertise of the diaspora in the economic development of a country.
Last modified: January 23, 2025