Prishtina, 5 November 2026
Good afternoon, everyone.
It was amazing to see all those applications and robots as we came in. Perhaps we should have held our meetings first and then seen them, because it is very difficult to be interesting after what we have just witnessed – all those talented young women and men. I congratulate them from the bottom of my heart.
Distinguished DOKU.TECH organizers,
Dear Ms Teresa Crawford, Chair of the Board of The Foundation House,
Dear Ms Abetare Gojani, Executive Director of The Foundation House,
Distinguished representatives of local and international institutions,
Above all, distinguished entrepreneurs, professionals, researchers and students,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here with you today on the occasion of the opening of DOKU.TECH 2026, an event that over the years has brought new ideas, experiences and perspectives on technology and innovation to our country, our beloved Kosovo.
This year’s theme, “The Future Calls”, is precisely an invitation to take action today. The fact that we say the future is calling means that, in a way, it has already arrived. When someone calls you, you may not see them, but as you hear their voice, you know they are very close and that you will see them soon. In other words, the future begins today, with the decisions we make, the knowledge we develop and the new opportunities we create.
Technology is changing rapidly, and with it, opportunities are emerging that, until just a few years ago, seemed out of reach, if not unimaginable. For Kosovo, with its young population and already proven talent in technology, these developments undoubtedly represent an extraordinary opportunity.
Our Information and Communication Technology sector is one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy. We have more than 2,500 companies, the vast majority of which provide services to international markets. All of them have already established a proven reputation and a solid track record. Over the past four years, exports of Information and Communication Technology services have increased more than fivefold, and ICT accounts for a full 6 per cent of our country’s gross domestic product. By way of comparison, agriculture accounts for 7 per cent, while ICT accounts for 6 per cent of gross domestic product.
Behind these figures, of course, are thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs who are developing Kosovo’s technology sector through their knowledge, creativity and hard work.
Our ambition should be for Kosovo, alongside exporting technology services, to increasingly develop products, platforms and innovative, high-value solutions, and, in this sense, to build a domestic ecosystem of its own. In other words, our aim should not simply be to work for others and earn revenue while the greater share of the profit is generated elsewhere, but to ensure that a greater share of capital circulation also translates into capital accumulation within our own country.
Distinguished participants,
In the public sector too, technology is changing the relationship between citizens and the state, and between citizens and the Republic. That is why the e-Kosova platform is also at the centre of our efforts. It offers more than 330 digital services, enabling citizens to complete procedures using their phones or computers, without unnecessary travel or paperwork.
In the past, we had to go to the municipality or an administrative office, which would then wait to see what the state or the Government would do. Today, not only are all those services available to us, but they are also in our pockets and at our fingertips at any time, all through our mobile phones.
Just this week, we launched the National Electronic Identification, Electronic Signature and Digital Wallet Platform. This enables citizens to identify themselves securely, sign documents electronically and carry out transactions remotely.
However, digitalization also requires simplifying procedures and improving the way institutions operate, both at central and local level. Genuine digital transformation should not simply transfer bureaucracy from paper to screens; it should make processes faster and save energy and time.
Dear participants,
Artificial intelligence, particularly in recent years, has been transforming scientific research, education, industry and the entire economy. For countries like Kosovo, this creates opportunities for innovation, increased productivity and the development of new economic sectors.
These opportunities also come with responsibilities. The use of artificial intelligence must respect citizens’ rights, privacy and data security.
One thing that has never changed is that the most important investment, today as much as in the future that is calling us, is investment in people. We want children and young people to develop digital skills at school, for our universities to work more closely with industry, and for young people to have opportunities to develop their ideas in Kosovo, so that both they and all the citizens of our country can benefit from them.
To achieve this, we need cooperation between institutions, businesses, universities and our diaspora. DOKU.TECH is an important platform for building these connections.
I encourage you to turn the discussions taking place at DOKU.TECH over these days into partnerships, projects and concrete opportunities.
Distinguished participants,
“The Future Calls.”
Kosovo has demonstrated that it has considerable talent, creativity and potential in technology. We want young people to see Kosovo as a place where they can implement their ideas, gain new experiences, establish companies, develop technologies and build their careers.
Kosovo’s future will be shaped not only by ideas, but also by the courage and hard work of the people in this room today.
I wish you inspiring discussions, new ideas and successful collaborations throughout DOKU.TECH 2026.
Thank you for the invitation and for your attention!