Prishtina, 19.04. 2012 – The Government is interested to improve the national trade balance, which can only achieved through adequate export levels and long-term and reliable partnerships, which the businesses can establish through their contacts, said the Minister of Economic Development, Besim Beqaj.

These comments were made today by Minister Beqaj during the meeting held with representatives of the country’s exporters, with which he discussed on the problems they face, while presenting the projects which are developed within MED.

“I know that many of you are bearers of our exports. According to the World Bank, exports exceed 200 million euro and mainly comprise base metals. Therefore, we are proving that there are businesses which will influence our economic growth and are able to provide for qualitative products not only in the regional but also in other new markets,” said Beqaj.

He said that the best promotion of foreign investments in Republic of Kosovo is facilitated by treating local investors better and by utilizing their contacts for the attraction of new investors.

Minister Beqaj informed the businessmen on the new developments in TPP Kosova e Re Project, KEK Distribution privatization, PTK Privatization and identification of investment potentials in hydro-energy, while underlining measures undertaken in the reform of publicly owned enterprises.

“However, what I want to share with you is that we’re planning a donor conference on alternative energy and energy efficiency. This event will be organized in cooperation with WB in July or September, pending the harmonization of our agendas. It will represent an open invitation for Kosovo businesses and your contacts in the region and beyond. We ask you to communicate this to your partners, in order to increase the level of attractiveness of this sector,” he said.

Finally, the Minister ensured representatives of Kosovo exporters that they will enjoy the support of the Ministry of Economic Development, while expressing the readiness of this institution to address all problems they face in the development of their activities.

For his part, the exporter representative, Muhamet Ymeri, said that Kosovar companies need qualitative technological investments, and asked the foreign donors to support processing industries in this regard.

“It’s a deficiency of Kosovar companies, which have remained enslaved by their decisions. They have failed to establish stronger consortia, which would be able to face regional and EU competition,” he added, while inviting local companies to engage in closer cooperation with each-other.

In this occasion, representatives of exporters presented the problems they face, which are mostly of administrative nature, while promising to utilize their business contacts for attracting foreign investors.