The National Council for Economic Development of Kosovo (NCEDK) held its sixth meeting on July 19 2016, attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa.
The Prime Minister Mustafa addressed the participants emphasizing that since assuming the Government, they have been facing with obstacles from the opposition, particularly with an opinion which was mainly imposed with elements of the issue of demarcation and the Association of Serb Municipalities.
“Meanwhile, despite the mentioned challenges, we managed to place the economic agenda of the Government as top priority. We also achieved a sustainable agenda, in creating normal conditions for doing businesses and economic development that we can be proud of, but not the one that we have aimed for, because we wanted even higher economic development", said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister Mustafa further underlined that this shows that there are sound businesses as well as sound and successful business associations in Kosovo, and that sound economic policies are being established jointly, a sound and sustainable banking system, and there is confidence in regards to economic development.
"Also, we rely in foreign investors and partners, who despite the situation that we had in Kosovo, have been investing in the past year and continue to invest during this year as well", said the Prime Minister.
Referring to the data of the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, but also the data supported by the Central Bank and by international financial institutions, the Prime Minister Mustafa said that we expect an economic growth of 4 percent for the last year, which is the highest in the region.
The Prime Minister Mustafa said that last year Kosovo succeeded in absorbing around 324 million euro foreign direct investments which have doubled compared to the past year and also there is an increase of foreign investors owned companies.
Additionally, he mentioned the activities undertaken by the Government of Kosovo in enhancing the business environment.
“What makes us happy is that recently the World Bank also acknowledged that we have shown essential progress of indicators of regulatory governance measured by the Bank, whereby according to the rating, Kosovo is ranged from grade 2.6 of the last year to grade 4.6, while the maximum grade is 6, which means that we have superseded 30 countries during the year, and of 187 countries, Kosovo ranged from position 73 to the position 43, which is a substantial increase, "said Prime Minister, by mentioning the positive assessments of Kosovo businesses in this regard.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hykmete Bajrami, said that by the re-establishment of the council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, the participating institutions together with the business community have been quite active in their common work in terms of addressing the business barriers in order to enable us reform the business environment and to drive forward the economic agenda which is part of the government program 2015-2018.
"We have overcome many barriers, strengthened the enterprises in Kosovo, restored business confidence in institutions, we had a substantial increase in foreign investments, and also an increase in the number of companies with foreign owners. In the course of these efforts, I am pleased to say that today we can talk about a number of very significant and positive changes and developments achieved by the increased economic activity of businesses and with increased investments in general "said Minister Bajrami.
Agenda of the Sixth Meeting: (Link to Agenda 6)
Minutes of the Sixth Meeting can be read here. (Link to Minutes of Meeting 6)
Official Announcement for the Meeting: http://www.kryeministri-ks.net/?page=2,9,6022