News

The annual conference of the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade took place

Prishtinë, 31/12/2024

At this significant event, the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Ms. Rozeta Hajdari, along with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Albin Kurti, engaged in an open discussion with over 400 participating enterprises. Key topics discussed included collaborative progress in the development of the local industry, the promotion of investments and exports, as well as the positive impact on employment growth and national revenues.

During the conference, a panel discussion was held with the participation of Zef Dedaj, the host and Director of the Kosovo Investment and Enterprise Support Agency, Agron Llugaliu, Director of Kosovo Customs, and Besnik Berisha, Director of the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund. The financial support for businesses in 2024 and the increased support planned for 2025 were presented at the conference, with the goal of making the private sector the main driver of overall development in our country.

For the first time, the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade has introduced an Industrial Policy with the vision that by 2030 Kosovo's industry will be transformed into a more globally integrated industry capable of producing high value-added products and offering decent employment opportunities.

The objectives and support for the private sector by the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade aim to promote economic diversification by expanding industrial production towards higher value-added activities, enhancing competitiveness and innovative capacity, leading to increased export potential, improved trade balance, and accelerating digital transformation in both the private sector and manufacturing industry.

We are achieving these objectives by implementing long-awaited reforms within the framework of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and aligning legislation with the EU Acquis and relevant international conventions. This aims to improve the doing business environment, promote and protect investments, facilitate trade, safeguard competition, strengthen industrial property protection, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, reform market surveillance, enhance consumer protection, and promote sustainable tourism.

Support for businesses in 2024 has been consistent, with reforms and capital investments aimed at developing efficient industrial and technological parks for local enterprises, as well as for investors from the diaspora and abroad.

  • We have completed the construction of physical infrastructure and put into operation the industrial parks in Vitia, Shiroka and Vushtrri, with total capital investments of €1.3 million.
  • We have begun the construction of physical infrastructure for the development of three industrial parks - in Lipjan, Rahovec and Mitrovica, with capital investments of €6.2 million, currently in progress.
  • We have established and are now in the process of starting the construction of the physical infrastructure for the industrial park in Podujeva, with capital investments of €3.5 million.
  • We have established and initiated the construction of physical infrastructure for Industrial Park 2 in Drenas, with capital investments of around €7.7 million.
  • We have completed the construction of the business incubator in Malisheva and the renovation of the Technology Park in Shtime, with capital investments of around €300,000.
  • We have established a business incubator at Haxhi Zeka University in Peja.

Today, 15 agreements were signed between the KIESA agency and beneficiary start-up enterprises for the latest innovation support scheme of 2024, reaching a total of:

  • 308 beneficiary enterprises receiving grants for machinery advancement, certification, digitalization, and handicrafts, and
  • 180 enterprises supported for participation in numerous international fairs to promote 1000 products and services from priority industrial production sectors, ICT and the tourism service industry.

This event was organized by the Kosovo Investment and Enterprise Support Agency (KIESA), a main agency within the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, that supports local enterprises.

The participation of entrepreneurs in today's event was evidence of the strong cooperation between the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade and the private sector.

Their success stories, such as expanding industrial production, improving the quality and certification of internationally recognized products, increasing and diversifying export markets, and generating better employment opportunities, demonstrate the extraordinary impact we have achieved together.

With the commitment and dedication of local entrepreneurs, along with the support provided by government measures, we are building a brighter future for Kosovo.

Local enterprises, rising like stars, are driving forces for economic, social, and environmental development, contributing more effectively to the overall development of our country.