Gjilan, 6 May 2025
The acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, accompanied by the acting Deputy Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Jeton Raka, members of the Assembly and together with the Mayor of the Municipality of Gjilan, Alban Hyseni, laid the foundation stone of the Affordable and Social Housing Complex in this municipality.
This complex will consist of a total of 71 housing units, of which 57 apartments will be for affordable housing and 14 apartments will be for social housing. The total construction area of this complex is close to 12,350 square meters, the contract duration will be three years, and there will be four types of apartments 53 square meters, 66 square meters, 77 square meters and 87 square meters.
“Since the beginning of our governing mandate, we have begun preparations for affordable and social housing, placing it on the government agenda and then conducting feasibility studies for the various municipalities that have applied, and here in Gjilan, we are marking the beginning of the construction works today with this foundation stone ceremony, which, I emphasize again, will last a total of three years,” said Prime Minister Kurti.
He added that the beneficiaries will be young couples who will benefit if they do not have a solved housing problem, and also that at least one person in the couple must be under 37 years old. These apartments will also be for families with a single parent.
The Prime Minister thanked the Mayor of the Municipality of Gjilan, political representatives in this municipality, as well as the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, who have worked continuously to achieve this result, since housing is a necessity, a vital existential thing. Thus, this complex will make a total of 71 families happy in 71 apartments in the Municipality of Gjilan, whether affordable or social housing.
The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Jeton Raka, said that with the approval of the Government Agenda for Affordable and Social Housing in 2021 by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we aimed to ensure decent, affordable and sustainable housing for all citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Gjilan, Alban Hyseni, described the implementation of the social and affordable housing project in Gjilan as a vital project for the citizens.
This project is a co-investment of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure and the beneficiary municipalities, where the municipalities contribute with the location and necessary infrastructure. So far, four contracts have been signed with economic operators in seven lots in the Municipalities of Istog, Gjilan, Peja and Podujeva, with a total value of 32,257,752.81 euros.
Full speech by Prime Minister Kurti:
We are here together with the Mayor, Alban Hyseni, with the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Jeton Raka, and with the MPs Liza Gashi, Arbëreshë Kryeziu-Hyseni and Arijeta Rexhepi, to lay the foundation stone of the buildings for affordable and social housing here in Gjilan.
This involves two lots, where a total of 71 residential units or apartments will be built. 57 will be affordable housing, while 14 will be for social housing.
The total construction area is close to 12,350 square meters. The duration of the contract will be three years and there will be four types of apartments: 53 square meters, 66 square meters, 77 square meters and 87 square meters.
Since the beginning of our governing mandate, we have begun preparations for affordable and social housing, placing it on the government agenda and then conducting a feasibility study for the various municipalities that have applied, and here in Gjilan, we are marking the beginning of the construction works today with this foundation stone ceremony, which, I emphasize again, will last a total of three years.
This project is a co-investment of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, on the one hand, and the municipality, on the other, in which case the Municipality of Gjilan contributes with accompanying infrastructure and location.
The beneficiaries will be young couples, in which case they will benefit if they do not have a solved housing problem. And also, at least one person in the couple must be under 37 years old. These apartments will also be for families where we have a single parent.
The triangle, the ministry and the municipality on one side, the Institute for Housing Studies on the other, and also the International Finance Corporation, has functioned efficiently and we have come to this day, which is good news for all the citizens of Gjilan, for the Municipality of Gjilan and in particular for those families who will live here.
Now, it is important to emphasize that the Municipality of Gjilan is one of the five municipalities, along with Peja, Podujeva, Istog and Kamenica, for which conceptual and main projects have been drafted.
In these municipalities, we have also had equipment with construction conditions, while in three of them, including Gjilan, there are also construction permits. So far, four contracts have been signed with economic operators in seven lots in these municipalities, namely Gjilan, Istog, Peja and Podujeva. The total value is around 32,257,000 euros.
I would like to thank the Mayor of Gjilan, the political representatives here, the directors and assembly members, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, who have worked continuously to reach this important day, since housing is not a luxury, housing is a necessity, it is a vital existential thing. We cannot have a dignified life without sustainable housing and there will be a total of 71 happy families in 71 apartments in the municipality of Gjilan, whether affordable or social housing.
Thank you for the work you have done as economic operators, since economic operators have also applied, met the criteria and won, and now I wish you to do your work well and as soon as possible. At most three years — it can be done faster, but not slower.
Thank you very much!
Last modified: May 8, 2025