Prishtina, 05.09.2024 – The Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, had a fruitful meeting with Kostas Fragogiannis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, and in charge of Greek Economic Diplomacy, who is visiting Kosovo as part of the Kosovo-Greece Economic Forum.

Minister Rizvanolli expressed her gratitude and satisfaction for today’s meeting, held on the eve of the Economic Forum between Kosovo and Greece, and ahead of her participation in the 8^th Southeastern Europe Energy Forum in Thessaloniki.

During the meeting, Minister Rizvanolli shared the achievements in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, highlighting that since 2022, when the annual growth in the ICT sector stood at 13%, it has achieved to nearly double in 2023 to 25%.

As a result of this growth, approximately 10,000 individuals have been employed in the ICT sector, and 70% of companies in the sector now export their services.

Additionally, she informed the Greek Deputy Minister about the accomplishments in the RES sector, such as the success of the first 100 MW solar auction and the upcoming auctions that are part of the investment package through which the ME aims to develop 950 MW of new renewable energy capacity, with a total investment of €1.2 billion. The next project expected to move forward is a competitive procedure for the construction of new wind energy generation capacities of 150 MW, with support from USAID and IFC as transaction advisors. This process is expected to take shape soon.

Greece serves as a good example in energy generation, with companies possessing the necessary expertise and experience, as approximately 65% of the energy generated is clean. Therefore, Minister Rizvanolli urged Deputy Minister Fragogiannis to invite Greek companies to invest in the energy sector in Kosovo.

On his part, Deputy Minister Fragogiannis expressed Greece’s interest in cooperation, mainly in the development of ICT infrastructure and Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

In addition, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis will participate in the Economic Forum alongside 16 Greek companies, with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation and investments, with a particular focus on the renewable energy, ICT, and tourism sectors.

Deputy Minister Fragogiannis reiterated Greece’s position that Western Balkan states should be part of the European Union, and that Greece is a supporter of this path.