The National Council for Economic Development of Kosovo (NCEDK) held its fifth meeting on February 22 2016, with a discussion on the further advancement of reforms to improve the environment of doing business and economic development of the Republic of Kosovo.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms. Hykmete Bajrami, in the capacity of the Coordinator of NCEDK, stressed that the year we left behind was quite challenging and with sensational political and economic developments.
She mentioned some of the main economic developments during the past year, as the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which she said that the Government of Kosovo in December last approved the National Program for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. Further, Minister Bajrami said that "In spite of the many challenges, the year 2015 marked a significant turning point in attracting foreign direct investments, which, according to the data of Central Bank of Kosovo, reached over 315 million euros by the end of November.
Also, in January of this year, the Government of Kosovo approved the National Strategy for Development which presents the basic document for the strategic orientations of the Republic of Kosovo over the next five years, for which we have also debated in the previous meeting of the Council, . Bajrami, who added that, in order to simplify the procedures for investments and improvement of the business environment, substantial actions were taken, including the Draft Law on Strategic Investments that was approved by the Government and already awaiting its approval in the Assembly of Kosovo; Amending the fiscal package laws, which entered into force on September 1 2015 and have significantly improved the business environment in Kosovo; the adoption of the Law on Credit Guarantee Fund, the operation of which is expected to be made soon; Issuing an Administrative Instruction for the application of tax breaks, etc.
Minister Bajrami underlined that "The NCEDK has now become an important forum for public-private dialogue between Kosovo institutions and the business community, where during the four meetings held in 2015 we addressed topics and important issues for business and investments and we have recommended measures for the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to create favorable economic policies and facilities for businesses."
What has been a hallmark of the Council so far is that the agenda of all its meetings so far has been based on the proposals and requirements of the business community and I believe that it should be in the future as well, stated Ms. Bajrami.
The Secretariat as well as the chairpersons of the NCEDK working groups reported on the progress achieved in fulfilling the tasks that were tasked in NCEDK’s fourth meeting.
At this meeting, the Council discussed the progress made in the implementation process of the reforms related to the World Bank's Doing Business Report, for which process, the Government of Kosovo, in December last year issued a decision on reform coordination, which foresees better coordination of activities that should be undertaken by the country's institutions to improve the business environment in general and addressing specific issues arising from the World Bank's World Bank Report on Doing Business.
The Government's decision obliges each of the leading ministries to create separate working groups for each indicator of the World Bank report. In this regard, the Council found that some of the ministries have already established working groups and asked that other ministries form them as soon as possible, so that the Task Force for Doing Business, led by the Ministry of Trade and Industry can coordinate the working schedule with these groups.
An analytical framework on World Bank's "Doing Business" methodology was also presented from a World Bank expert.
Agenda of the Fifth Meeting: (Agenda 5)
Minutes of the Fifth Meeting can be read here. (Link to Minutes of Meeting 5)
Official Announcement for the Meeting: http://www.mti-ks.org/sq/Aktivitetet-e-Ministres/U-mbajt-takimi-i-pest-i-K-shillit-Komb-tar-p-r-Zhvillim-Ekonomik-3398-3398Fifth Meeting