Dear organizers, Mr. Bekim Xhafa and Ms. Albona Demaku,
Congratulations on this 25th anniversary – a jubilee that celebrates your tireless and relentless work, which is of immense value not only to the business community and the economy, but also to our broader social emancipation, economic development, and overall progress.
Dear Minister Rozeta Hajdari, from the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade,
Honorable Acting Director of KIESA, Mr. Zef Dedaj,
Dear farmers, agribusinesses, institutional representatives,
Local and international guests,
Today, it is our pleasure to open a highly important event for the agricultural sector and rural development in Kosovo – the AGROKOS & Agritourism 2025 Fair.
This annual event brings together producers of agricultural crops, fruit and livestock product processors, companies in agricultural machinery, artisanal beverages, packaging and standardization – as well as agritourism, a sector that is increasingly becoming a new asset for our country.
Over the past three years, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, and under the leadership of the highly successful Minister Faton Peci, has taken important steps to strengthen this vital sector.
For the first time, 300 million euros have been allocated for 120,000 farmers through grants and subsidies, with support for wheat increasing by 275%, and for organic farming by 500%.
Irrigation systems have been rehabilitated for over 11,000 hectares, and the amount of arable agricultural land has increased by 50% in just four years – from around 80,000 hectares to more than 120,000 hectares.
The reduction of imports and the increase in exports speaks volumes: since 2019, exports of tomatoes, vegetables, and preserved produce have multiplied. Domestic production and the competitiveness of our products in foreign markets have improved significantly.
In the livestock sector, more than 13 million euros have been invested in the construction of 93 new barns, the addition of over 2,000 heads of cattle, and the purchase of dozens of tractors.
Digitalization, transparency, and the fight against corruption have also been priorities at every step – from animal registration to forest monitoring with drones, cameras, and GPS.
For the first time, properties worth millions of euros that were previously illegally expropriated have been returned to state ownership. We have restored trust in the rule of law, in justice, and in the protection of public assets. Every year, 30,000 farmers are direct beneficiaries and witnesses of the Ministry’s and the Government’s commitment.
Dear attendees,
All these are not just statistics – they are proof that Kosovo is working toward a modern, fair, and sustainable agriculture.
Today, more than ever, agriculture is not a sector of the past, but a pillar of our economic future.
On this journey, our partnership with you – the farmers, agribusinesses, investors, and development organizations – is the key to our shared success.
Thank you for your trust and your work. Congratulations on the opening of the fair, and I wish you ever greater success through the collaborations that will emerge from here!
Thank you!
