Washington DC, 28 July 2022 – At the premises of the American Congress, the agreement was signed between the Republic of Kosovo and the United States of America, represented by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), in the value of 236.7 million dollars.

The delegation of the Republic of Kosovo, led by President Vjosa Osmani – Sadriu, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, was welcomed to the premises of the American Congress by the American delegation led by Congressman Bill Keating, who is also the Chairman of the HFAC Subcommittee for Europe, Energy, Environment, and Cyber.

The MCC delegation was led by the Chief Executive Officer of the MCC, Alice Albright, who signed the agreement, alongside Minister Rizvanolli, who signed on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, under the supervision of the high political level of both countries, represented by the President and Prime Minister of the country, and by congressmen of the Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, Environment, and Cyber, chaired by Mr. Keating.

Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that this will be the largest and most innovative investment in the energy sector in Kosovo to date.

The Compact Program will be the cornerstone of our green transition and will contribute to our energy security as well as socio-economic transformation. Today, we are not only marking a historic cooperation on common goals in the energy sector, but we are also celebrating the close relations and common values between our two countries, said Prime Minister Kurti.

The signing of the agreement follows the confirmation by unanimous vote of the Compact Program by the MCC Board of Directors, as well as the successful negotiation held in May of this year. The signing paved the way for the acceleration of the project implementation process, for which there is full agreement by the American delegation.

Minister Rizvanolli expressed her gratitude to the Kosovo Government and MCC teams for the great work done to reach this point. She pledged to continue to cooperate with dedication to implement the program within the shortest time possible.

At a critical time for Kosovo’s energy sector, I am more than proud to sign such an important agreement on behalf of the Republic of Kosovo for the energy sector and the country’s economy, said Minister Rizvanolli.

The Compact Program shall include three projects:

1. Energy reserves and arbitration of 340 MWh,

2. The development of the workforce, with special emphasis on the inclusion of women in the energy sector, and

3. The Project of the American Catalyst Facility for Development, which aims to encourage private sector funding by the United States’ International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Kosovo.

The investments of the Compact Program shall be in the ownership of the Republic of Kosovo, and they mark one of the most important development collaborations between the Republic of Kosovo and the United States of America.