Prishtina, 05.02.2026 – Acting Minister of Economy, Artane Rizvanolli, participated as a panellist in the first edition, a high-level forum with around 50 participating businesses, which aims to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation between Kosovo and France, as well as to promote Kosovo as an increasingly attractive destination for international investments.

The event brought together representatives of government institutions, diplomatic community, international financial organizations, investors and leading companies from France, Kosovo and the region, serving as a platform for strategic dialogue, exchange of experiences and building concrete partnerships.

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that Kosovo is ready for major infrastructure partnerships and open to serious investments. He stressed that the country is expanding trade cooperation with Europe and the region, while institutional stability provides security, predictability and fiscal discipline for businesses.

The panel with the topic “Kosovo’s energy transition: What has been achieved so far and what is expected next?”, was composed of: Artane Rizvanolli, Minister of Economy, Arnaud Daphin, Director of Chez AFD – French Development Agency, Sergiy Maslichenko, Head of EBRD in Kosovo, Nicolas Palissier, Lovro Mirkovič, representative of Akuo Energy for Central Europe, Moritz Reme, Head of the KFW Office for Kosovo and North Macedonia, Louis Boisgibault, Expert on Energy Transition in the Minister’s Office and moderator of the panel.

Minister Rizvanolli presented before the attendees the main achievements and priorities in the energy sector, with a focus on investments in renewable energy, central heating, regional cooperation and energy efficiency, which remain the main pillars of Kosovo’s energy policies, aiming at increasing investors’ confidence and strengthen the sustainability of the system.

She emphasized that renewable energy projects are being implemented through transparent and competitive procedures, mentioning the first wind energy auction, where the French company Aqua Energy also qualified. According to her, these processes have increased investor confidence and strengthened Kosovo’s image as a country governed with transparency.

Rizvanolli highlighted the importance of expanding central heating systems in other cities in Kosovo, emphasizing that feasibility studies have already been completed and that these investments will contribute to reducing the load on the electricity system, especially during the winter peak.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation for the integration of renewable sources into the grid, as well as the key role of energy efficiency, underlining that Kosovo has considerable room for improvement in reducing energy consumption and increasing economic performance.

According to her, these investments will contribute to reducing the load on the electricity system, especially during the winter peak, increasing security of supply and network stability.

The forum also discussed developments in the banking and financial sector, public-private partnerships as an instrument for economic development, and Kosovo’s role in technology and innovation. The participation of European institutions and multinational companies demonstrated the growing interest in the Kosovo’s market.

French Business Day in Kosovo 2026 also served as a concrete platform for B2B and B2G meetings, opening opportunities for new collaborations and investment projects between Kosovo and France.

The first edition of this forum is considered an important step towards strengthening economic dialogue and long-term partnerships between the countries.