Prishtina, 25.10.2017 – The Minister of Economic Development, Valdrin Lluka, promised support for domestic producers, in a meeting with Jaha Solar from Fushë Kosovë, a photovoltaic panel producer which he visited today along with his associates.

Minister Lluka was informed first hand on this factory’s operations, as well as on possibilities for improving production conditions for all producers in this sector. “Today, we visited Jaha Solar, a good example of our country’s production capacities, a 8.5 million euro German-Kosovar investment, with over 80 employees and an extraordinary potential for greater investment and impact on other industries,” the Minister said on this occasion.

He added that he never felt greater pride with a domestic product than the one felt for the solar panels inspected today, wishing the owners and employees further success in their endeavors.

“I am fascinated with the product. I hereby pledge on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Development and the Government to do all in our hands to provide the necessary support for all products related to energy and energy efficiency, including these solar panels, and protect them from imports,” Lluka said, adding that he will personally engage in providing these products with adequate support.

The Head of MED said the main problem for solar panel producers is that they don’t enjoy any measure to protect them from imports, meaning that solar panels may be imported without hindrance and compete with the domestic producers. Taking this into consideration, due care should be given to protecting domestic producers, because both the investment and knowledge transfer related to the production of said panels represent a great value for the country, which should be supported as such by all institutions.

Fadil Hoxha, owner of Jaha Solar, said that he is extremely happy to have found in this Government the support like from no other in the past, hoping that this approach will be useful in overcoming all challenges lying ahead.

“I guarantee that what is produced here is of premium, high class quality not only for Kosovo but for European standards as well,” he said.

The President of the Kosovo Producers Club, Astrit Shabani, thanked Minister Lluka and added that the current Government has taken decisive steps towards focusing on domestic production.

Jaha Solar was opened last year, initially as a 5 million euro Kosovar-German investment, and is the first factory for the production of solar panels in the region.