Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ordered his Minister of Public Works to open a tender for the selection of the consulting company which will do the feasibility study for the railway line which will connect Albania and Kosovo.

Berisha said that this is the most important link for Albania's ports. He said that the railway link with Kosovo is of extraordinary importance, especially after the construction of the port of Vlora, which to have full efficiency requires stronger railway links with Kosovo, Montenegro and FYR of Macedonia.

 

 

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"Kosovo should create an environment for development of sustainable and competitive businesses including in major world markets and it is not something unachievable," said on Thursday the representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the promotion of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development - CEED Kosovo.

Kosovo has become the seventh country in the Balkans with this kind of center that has started its work on Thursday through which Kosovar enterprises will be supported for creating a more favorable climate  in view of establishing sustainable and competitive businesses in the Republic of Kosovo, and abroad.

Susan Fritz, deputy chairwoman of the USAID in Kosovo, has stated that this center is of great importance of the entrepreneurship in Kosovo, which will also affect the economic growth in the country.

"The government remains a very strong partner in development of entrepreneurship, When we have worked closely with Kosovar institutions to create basis for economic growth for the future", emphasized Fritz.

She pointed that the given support to industry and businesses in Kosovo are very important factors for economic development in the future. The economic development initiatives, according to her, are based on economy market that will create employment and new investments.

"It is not easy to start a small business since it requires a lot of skills in creating new business which will compete in the international markets", said the USAID official.

However, according to her the Center for Entrepreneurship will provide to entrepreneurs knowledge and opportunities to make networking( expansion of business and cooperation with other businesses), as well as the growth of different businesses, a project that will bring an entrepreneurship culture in Kosovo. Fritz has highlighted that the USAID has supported and addresses the needs for training by giving entrepreneurs the practical tools to develop businesses and methods for improving business results.

"Even in other Balkan countries the USAID has provided training for 15 thousand entrepreneurs and managers, so hopefully the same results will be achieved in Kosovo ", she noted.

Meanwhile Nol Buzhala, an official at the Agency for Support of  Medium and Small Enterprises in the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Kosovo, believes that the inauguration of CEED-Kosovo will justify its presence,certainly improving performance of entrepreneurship in Kosovo."

According to him, in Kosovo there are encouraging achievements for businesses, but there are also challenges that remain barrier in thefuture.

Although, he said, infrastructure is improving every day, always based on the European Union perspectives.

"Ministry of Trade and Industry through serious projects, by collaborating with partners, it is encouraging the creation of advanced and successful businesses",Buzhala said. He has stated that establishment of the center CEED-Kosovo, which aims to bring knowledge and better business practices, will become powerful arm in the implementation of Kosovo's strategy for learning entrepreneurship.

"There is no dilemma that entrepreneurship has direct impact with the creation of gross domestic product, and as such it has become a global important factor which should be for Kosovo as well, "he said.

MTI, in his view, strong supports this project being viewed an urgent need for creating the business cooperation and establishing medium and small competitive enterprises in Kosovo.

"We highly appreciate the work that has made USAID in the formation of this center, which we hope to play an important role and give a special contribution to entrepreneurship development and the advancement of businesses in Kosovo."Buzhala said.

He has promised that the MTI will support and coordinate activities of all actors that promote, encourage and develop entrepreneurship in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, the chairman of CEED-Kosovo, Kreshnik Lleshi announced that after Kosovo, which has become the seventh country with CEED, a such center will be opened in Albania as well. The opening of these centers in countries of the region, according to him, will bigger affect in business networking and cooperation between them.

Asserting that there will be criteria in the selection of certain companies who participate in programs that CEED-Kosovo offers, Lleshi said "there would set in a criteria for the selection of entrepreneurs, because not all will have opportunities to participate in, since in the first year it is planned to take part in the program about 25 most successful enterprises".

He has specified that USAID will finance the project for three years, where companies will finance a part of training, and it is foreseen to be more long-term project.

The first activities the CEED-Kosovo are training programs for small and medium enterprises, which this year will begin training programs for Top - Class, networking and consultations for about 25 Kosovar companies and then continue training Top - Class Plus, and other activities for their support.

For the first the Republic of Kosovo representatives since its membership attend the annual meetings of International Monetary Fund and World Bank as a member with full rights.

Kosovar delegation led by Economy and Finance Minister Ahmet Shala who is also the Governor of the Republic of Kosovo at the World Bank, accompanied by Governor of Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Rexhepi who is also Governor of the Republic of the Kosovo at International Monetary Fund.

During the first three days, the Kosovar delegation has held numerous meetings with representatives of institutions of IMF, World Bank as well as delegations of various member countries at the annual meeting in Istanbul.

The Republic of Kosovo delegation stays in Istanbul until today when the annual meetings of IMF and World Bank concludes.

IMF Senior Advisor for Europe, Adam Bennett, confirms the "Express" that the Government of Kosovo with the IMF is preparing a special program of cooperation for economic capacity building in Kosovo

Kosovo will benefit from a special program of the International Monetary Fund for financing various projects, which this institution will establish together with the Government of the Republic Kosovo in the following days.

In the foreground will be the sustainability of the Kosovo budget and budgetary financing gaps for establishing economic and poverty reduction.

IMF Senior Advisor for Europe, Adam Bennett, confirms the Kosovar daily newspaper Gazeta Express that talks are underway between both parties to find a better solution to help economic capacity building in Kosovo.

He says that next year may begin to initially implement a program of twelve month period, while the government improves macroeconomic policies and to initiate other reforms in the country's economy.

According to his latest recommendations of the IMF for the 2010 budget should be taken seriously, so that Kosovo be prepared to enter into arrangements pending process "stand by arrangement".

"The Republic of Kosovo is the youngest member of the IMF and all other members, has the right to apply to the Fund's programs, if they wish. I think the government is seeking a construction program for the country ", states Bennett.

While the IMF does not directly fund projects, but instead gives guarantee to the states who apply to receive a certain amount of money, which you can use for budget needs, IMF official says says that this program will be more specific.

With the new role that the IMF has been assigned to assist states affected by the global financial crisis, Kosovo would also have the same benifit. In some way Bennett says he will close their eyes in some cases when government is unable to meet the requirements of the Fund.

"There is a lot of talk the IMF has become more flexible than has been previously. I am sure of this flexibility will be applied for Kosovo as well, "said Bennet.

The biggest concern of this institution, according to him, remains the risk of a sudden costs of poorly planned. At this point he says there should be no concessions, because this budget also depends on economic stability of the country, which comparing to other Balkan states, he says it is for any praise.

"Kosovo is lucky to be concluded in the economic growth of 3.5 percent, while other countries in the region are operating at a loss", he indicated.

Meanwhile, the shrinking of lending by banks, falling of remittances and lack of investment, Bennett estimates that are common to every country in time of crisis now. But, says it is important that the balance of loans is good in Kosovo, since not only in Eastern Europe, but also in other countries of the world are facing credit problems.

However, he consistently says Kosovo will have the support of this institution. So far, he has said that IMF has helped Kosovo with technical assistance, which will continue further.

In comparison with Bosnia, which takes as the nearest example of countries in the region, IMF official says that Kosovo is way more economically stable.