Prishtina, 21 April 2026
Honourable Ms. Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation,
Honourable Ms. Saranda Bogujevci, Minister of Culture and Tourism,
Honourable Excellencies, ambassadors and representatives of friendly states in the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable Deputy Ministers Fatban Bunjaku and Jeton Mehmeti of MINTI,
Honourable fellow ministers from the Government of the Republic and from the Assembly of Kosovo,
Honourable representatives of the business community, you who bear the greatest burden of economic development and employment in the country,
Honourable professors, researchers, and students,
Honourable entrepreneurs and innovators,
Honourable attendees,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The ability to produce knowledge, to transform it into economic value, and to direct it toward social well-being lies at the foundation of a country’s development—and it is precisely this that we reflect upon today, on World Innovation and Creativity Day.
Sustainable development is not the result of chance, nor of natural resources alone. It is the result of functional public institutions, adequate public policies, and a dynamic private sector where innovation and creativity are valued.
Every year, our universities produce thousands of graduates in fields such as engineering, computer science, economics, design, and other disciplines. At the same time, our diaspora represents an important source of capital—not only financial, but also professional and networking capital.
Therefore, we do not lack opportunities or ideas. What we are working on is how to build a system that transforms opportunities and ideas into concrete initiatives that contribute to the development of our country’s economy.
In a world that is changing at a staggering pace—from digital transformation and artificial intelligence to the green economy and the reconfiguration of global markets—the countries that move forward are precisely those that invest in knowledge, technology, and creativity.
Kosovo has one of the youngest populations in Europe, with more than half under the age of 35, and this is one of our greatest assets. We have a growing community of entrepreneurs and technology professionals who are already exporting services and competing in international markets. This is the potential of the new generation and a clear testament to the innovative spirit shaping our country’s future.
These young people stand out not only for their ideas but also for their skills, including proficiency in major foreign languages used in business and international communication. In the global innovation economy, the ability to move easily between languages and cultures is a major competitive advantage.
We have provided institutional support to this great potential, and in the coming years we will increase it even further. We are drafting clear public policies and making sustainable investments in an ecosystem that enables the development of initiatives.
We remain committed to building a comprehensive and functional ecosystem that supports innovation and entrepreneurship. In this regard, we have made progress in developing relevant national strategies, completing the legal framework, and creating financial instruments to support businesses. Yesterday, at the meeting of the Government of the Republic, we approved the Draft Law on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which is a clear indicator of our engagement and commitment.
This law also foresees the establishment of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund within the respective agency of the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, as well as the expansion of services and start-ups, with particular attention to women-owned businesses.
As a government, we are also investing in innovation infrastructure.
We have provided financial support of 8 million euros for the Innovation and Training Park in Prizren, which, with around 40 hectares of green space and 50 buildings, offers ideal conditions for innovation development and already has its own ecosystem.
We have also made operational the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, with an area of 1,000 m² at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Prishtina, representing an investment of 1 million euros.
Furthermore, we have built the Business Incubator in Malishevë and renovated the Technology Park in Shtime, with capital investments totaling 440,000 euros.
To provide more space for creativity and innovation for youth and new companies, we have allocated for five years the “Tech Park” Business Incubator in Bërnicë, Prishtina, with an area of nearly 4,000 m².
Investments have also been made in final-year students in the field of Information and Communication Technology, allocating 574,000 euros through training vouchers.
Kosovo has joined Horizon Europe, the European Union’s largest research and innovation programme. During the period 2021–2024, 15 projects have been funded with a total value of 1.5 million euros.
We are also working to strengthen innovation centres, incubators, and accelerators in universities, which serve as spaces where ideas are developed and transformed into concrete products.
In this new mandate, particular attention will be given to directing investments from our diaspora. We want the capital of our compatriots not to be limited to traditional sectors, but increasingly channeled toward innovation, technology, and creative industries.
However, our joint work does not end here.
We know that our businesses face real challenges that cannot be resolved overnight, but require continuous commitment and strong cooperation among all actors of the innovation ecosystem. What matters is that the direction is clear and the will is strong. As we grow, opportunities grow, and as we progress, new challenges emerge. New problems are evidence of progress—because when you fall behind, you may not even see certain problems. By moving forward, we face new challenges, which I am confident we will overcome together.
Today, before this audience, an exhibition of innovative products and services from our enterprises has also been organized—from start-ups to well-established small and medium-sized enterprises. This exhibition is proof not only of potential, but of reality. There we see ideas already transformed into products, services entering markets, and success stories being built and advancing every day.
I would like to emphasize once again that we are determined to support this potential. We want as many young people as possible to be educated and employed in the private sector, rather than primarily in state administration offices. Public administration facilitates and maintains, but major progress driven by innovation and creativity takes place in the private sector, which we aim to support through public administration and especially through the education system.
Our vision is clear: by 2030, Kosovo has the potential not only to aspire, but to position itself as a hub of innovation and creativity in the Western Balkans—perhaps even as a kind of Estonia of Southeast Europe.
On this path, cooperation is essential—between public institutions, the private sector, and educational institutions. Together, we can build an ecosystem characterized by sustainability, where beneath events lie stable processes.
To our international partners, I would like to express gratitude not only for financial support but also for continued engagement and partnership in this process. All the commitments you have heard from us—especially since December last year—we are transforming into concrete government programmes, from the ICT “Tech Tower” in Prishtina to the digital currency we aim to introduce.
Finally, I would like to stress that innovation is not only about technology. It is a way of thinking. It is the courage to challenge the status quo and to build better solutions for society. Those who are not satisfied with what exists and are willing to think beyond it—this is the engine of progress that we seek to support and facilitate, because it is exactly what we need now more than ever.
Thank you very much for your participation, contribution, and attention. I wish you even greater success in the future.