Prishtina, 08.04.2014 – The Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of Kosovo, Fadil Ismajli, is chairing a delegation participating in the two-day forum of the East Europe countries “East Forum Berlin 2014”, in Berlin Germany, the objective of which is to create possibilities for an economic area from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

The forum is being attended by highest German officials, including Foreign Minister, Frank Walter Steinmaier, Principle Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Igor Shuvalov, and other senior authorities in the level of ministers and other representatives from Turkey, Ukraine, Croatia, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rumania, Moldavia, etc.

A distinctive feature of this forum was related to the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine, which was also felt in speeches of attendees. Clearly affected by the crisis were also the potential investors, who stated that dialog is the only way to overcome the situation and accelerate the idea of the economic area from Lisbone to Vladivostok.

Minister Ismajli presented the particularities of Kosovo, which are also its comparative advantages, especially compared to the region. Advantages such as educated young population, mining sector, both for coal and minerals, agriculture with a significant percentage of arable agricultural land which offers the possibility of producing organic food, and last but not least, the promising sector of tourism, both mountain and ski tourism.

“Although Kosovo doesn’t lack foreign direct investments, considering the advantages and the legal framework, we call other investors to join in the initiative. We are a small country, but we offer great opportunities. The emergency period has passed and we no longer seek donations and grants, but rather right and equal access in global funds”, he added.

Minister Ismajli highlighted the unsparing support the Government of Kosovo gives to serious investors.

In the margins of this forum, Minister Ismajli also had separate meetings with the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Czech Republic, Jan Mladek, and President of EBRD, Suma Chakrabarti. Meetings will also continue in the coming days.