Kosovo promotes its economic capacities to French investors

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The conference held under the patronage of Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, in cooperation with the Ministries of Economic Development, Trade and Industry and Finance.

Over 60 representatives of middle and large-sized businesses in France participated in the Conference, representatives of French economic associations and representatives of French institutions and diplomatic staff of foreign states in Paris.

At the opening of the Conference, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo in France, Muhamedin Kullashi, said to those present, that Kosovo has the potential to offer great opportunities to French and European investors.

The Ambassador talked about the many economic resources, and legislative and economic reform being undertaken in Kosovo, which are creating strong investment prospects for European companies.

Kullashi emphasized financial and macro-economic stability, low taxation, advanced legislation and human resources, which favor investment.
 
In her speech, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, emphasized Kosovo’s economic advantages and opportunities, in which European companies can successfully invest.

She talked about the process of deep structural reform which Kosovo is undertaking, in order to become a strong partner for foreign investment.

“Kosovo is a country which offers many investment opportunities. It has a good strategic position, it is a state with the lowest costs in the Euro zone, and it has the youngest population in Europe and the lowest taxes. The banking system is stable and privatization of public enterprises continues.

Today, Kosovo has over 3,500 foreign companies and those with mixed ownership, which have now invested over 1.5 billion Euros”, said Kusari-Lila.

The Deputy Prime Minister then presented in detail the broad reforms being undertaken by the Kosovo Government to eliminate barriers and to encourage investment in the private sector, emphasizing that with the reforms being implemented, Kosovo today is a more appropriate country for external investment.

“We have one of the best tax systems in Europe, because we have undertaken serious reforms in the legal system. Important laws which are basic for empowering business have been approved, and technical barriers are being eliminated with states in the region, so that our economy can be more open, more competitive and in accordance with World Bank and EU requirements on trading issues”, said Kusari-Lila, inviting French businesses to invest in Kosovo. 

The Minister of Economic Development, Besim Beqaj, presented to the audience economic development processes up to now, the strong reforms being undertaken, development prospects and Kosovo’s economic cooperation with partners.

In his speech, Beqaj said that the key generation of Kosovo’s economic growth is private business and that the reforms which the Kosovo Government is undertaking aim to empower as much as possible, the private sector. 

He explained that through structural reforms and the entry of private capital into key sectors of Kosovo’s economy, sustainable economic development can be achieved in Kosovo. “We are interested through reform to eliminate barriers to business entry and to create opportunities for private business to be the main bearer of economic growth”, said Beqaj.

He presented Kosovo’s key economic sectors, telecommunications, energy and mines and public services, emphasizing amongst others that these sectors represent big opportunities for investment, in which private capital from companies from France and other long-term European partners, can be engaged.

In addition, Beqaj said that by entering into the Kosovo market, big French, European or more distant companies, are practically entering into the entire South East Europe market.

The Director of UBIFRANCE for South East Europe, Michel Bauza, in his presentation to those present, said that Kosovo is a country that offers many opportunities for French businesses which will be supported by UBIFRANCE, but also by other French financiers like OSEO and COFAS.

The Conference promoting opportunities for investment in Kosovo, which is being held in Paris, is continuing to work on discussions in various formats, in which senior officials of the Kosovo Government participate, as well as representatives of economic associations and representatives of many French and European businesses, interested in investing in various areas of the Kosovar economy.

In the conference, a presentation about Kosovo’s investment possibilities was made by the Director of the Agency for the Promotion of Investment in Kosovo (APIK), Valdrin Lluka as well as by Lorik Fejzullahu from the Unit for Public Private Partnership.

The organization in Paris, of the Conference on Investment in Kosovo, is an activity in the context of economic diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to raise foreign investment in Kosovo.

Such conferences are planned to be organized in many states of the European Union, in the USA, and other world states.