Prishtina 12.11.2017 – Minister of Economic Development Valdrin Lluka said today that the Information Technology sector comprises one of MED’s priorities, considering it a generator of economic development and noting projects pertaining to ‘digital economy’ which are being implemented in cooperation with the World Bank. To this end, he also presented other financial possibilities for supporting this sector.

The head of MED made these comments during the presentation of the findings of the “IT Barometer 2017” report, by the Kosovo Information and Communication Technology Society (STIKK), and the debate organized regarding ICT sector focuses on this occasion.

Minister Lluka emphasized that the World Bank has confirmed that by March or June of next year the $37 million loan will be mainly disbursed to cover the envisaged implementation of the project for deploying fiber optical cable throughout Kosovo, in order to cover 98% of the country’s territory with high-speed internet. Around 20 percent of the fund will be used to increase human capacities and promote skills and activities to be developed.

“The second part of the project is the Tech Park, for investments in which we’ve already allocated €300 thousand in the budget, but also an additional fund for developing the Tech Park further,” he said, adding that that there are two foreign companies that expressed their willingness to come to Kosovo and utilize local resources.

According to Minister Lluka, from the allocated IPA funds around €7 million will be granted this year to the development of human capacities and the WOW project, targeting female population’s inclusion in the labor market.

“In addition, it is good that we are coming together with a program that will serve your needs. We are able to provide the focus for the development funds and define human capacities, skills and infrastructure required for the project. This is the part that the Ministry I head covers, and I believe that this will result in better access to donations, loans and budgetary funds,” said the head of MED.

As the coordinator of economic cooperation with Hungary, Minister Lluka said that the country has granted a €62 million loan to Kosovo, with zero interest for a 30 year repayment term, which represents a great opportunity for the development of a common program for developing the ICT campaign further.