The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Mrs Rozeta Hajdari, participated today in the ceremony of signing of the Guarantee Agreement between the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency – SIDA and Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund – KCGF.
The re-guarantee financial instrument enabled by Sida, with the mediation of the Swedish Embassy in Kosovo, is one more opportunity to address the needs of private enterprises in Kosovo for access to financing. As such, this instrument will focus on increasing opportunities for green investments, women-owned/led enterprises, and exporting enterprises.
While the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, from the beginning has been part of the establishment of the fund through the drafting of the relevant law and by contributing to the charter capital of the KCGF, Minister Rozeta Hajdari emphasized the importance of this agreement, which strengthens the initial purpose of the establishment of the Fund as an important facilitator and auxiliary tool for the unfolding of the potential of our entrepreneurs as well as for the growth of economic, social and environmental development in our Republic.
Minister Hajdari unfolded the vision of the Industrial Policy 2030 and informed the attendees about the fourth objective of this policy, which aims to encourage the growth of circular industry with a greater contribution to CO2-neutral and environmentally friendly production and with a direct impact on better health and well-being for our citizens. She emphasized that KCGF is one of the main instruments of the implementation of the Industrial Policy, which aims to support and expand the export window for the manufacturing industry.
The Governor of the CBK, Ahmet Ismaili, said that the KCGF remains a very important mechanism to maintain and further advance the objective of a stable financial system.
The Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, emphasized our joint efforts, through today's Guarantee Agreement with KCGF, with the aim that this guarantee will channel 55 million euros in the next three years, through 800 loans, directly helping 660 enterprises with increasing gender equality in the business sector and transitioning to a greener economy.
The Government of Kosovo has supported the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund with 16.5 million euros in 2023, to support enterprises with export potential, enterprises owned by women and startup enterprises.
While Sweden, with the Guarantee Agreement signed today, is supporting KCGF with 14.9 million euros, focusing on three support programs for increasing opportunities for green investments, namely investments in renewable energy, development of enterprises owned or led by women, as well as supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, especially exporting ones.
Together with friendly countries and international partners for development cooperation, we are unfolding the potential of our private sector enterprises, to be the main driver of the social, economic and environmental development of Kosovo and thus to contribute more effectively to the overall development of our country.
