The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Ms. Rozeta Hajdari, delivered a speech at the event organized by the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund and USAID, where new window for financial relief “EXPORT WINDOW” has been launched.
During her speech, Minister Hajdari congratulated the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund, and emphasized once again the importance of factors that facilitate the development of export, adding that export opens new opportunities for our successful businesses which are being proven more and more every day. The minister expressed her great commitment to creating new opportunities for local businesses, for offering competitive products and services in the international market.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo has supported the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund (FKGK) with the amount of 40 million euros, through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), to facilitate access to financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs). ), which have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
In order to increase production and processing capacities and improve the trade balance through replacement of import and increased exports, MIET has supported 139 businesses that export or have the potential to export, in the amount of 9.8 million euros, through borrowing from the World Bank. Whereas through the grant scheme from KIESA, has offered local to producers and processors financial support for purchasing production machinery. In 2021, 32 local producers have benefited, while for 2022, around 35 local producers/processors are in the process of being supported. Meanwhile, through measure 2.1, the subsidy of investment loans of the economic revival package, according to the estimates received by MFPT so far, KIESA has realized 5,555,226.93 euros for the beneficiary businesses.
Minister Hajdari announced that the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade has implemented a series of reforms, which have resulted in positive statistics of increased competitiveness and export growth, highlighting the industrial policy that will further support the growth of investments and exports, and the relevant laws for improving the environment for doing business in our country.
In conclusion, Minister Hajdari announced that export of goods for January-October has reached 774.4 million euros or a 26% increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, foreign investments during January-September 2022 period have reached 566.9 million euros for the first time, or a 43.6% increase compared to the same period of 2021.
