A decade of foreign products without any serious investors

These conclusions came up today during the presentation of economic indicators for this period of 10 years, with the motto “a decade with foreign products: Time for the decade of local products”, organised by the Kosovo Economic Oda.

O Chairman EK, Safet Gerjaliu has said it has been a decade of challenges, a difficult period carried by transition to slow economic processes.

He has said that now is the time for the fate of Kosovo's future to be in our hands, to create economic development, new jobs and better prosperity. According to him, Kosovo businesses possess quality products but lack awareness of citizens and institutional protection of the state against producers.

If we are oriented into domestic production, for its support, but even in local services, I believe it is modern patriotism that Kosovo needs and its future. It is true that in the new strategy for economic development, a new perspective opens for Kosovo -- an opportunity that should really be exploited, but this exploitation will come into expression when we do homework, but it must be understood that the greatest concern in this strategy is no longer the term corruption, but it is the term capture of the state. It is not only for Kosovo, but also for the Western Balkans, but at the very least they paid tribute to Kosovo by such a term which affects the damage to its image, to the demotivatement of foreign investors, but what is most disturbing in discouraging the Kosovo diaspora to be present in Kosovo with financial power”, Gerjaliu has said.

OEK's leader has said he is optimistic that a new decade is under way, a decade's economy-oriented, education and the advancement of the legal system.

He has also talked about Kosovo-Albania economic relations, which said more is spoken of than done, specifically by Albania's authorities.

It's true that the challenges will be many, but I'm optimistic that a new decade is beginning, a decade's economy-oriented, in education, in advancing the legal system of rule and law and, above all, strengthening partnership with international friends and with those who want the good of Kosovo”, he has said.

The strategic adviser in OEK, Berat Rukiqi, who unveiled economic indicators, said Kosovo for the past ten years has had a positive trend of economic growth. He has added that unemployment remains the most problematic part in the past ten years, as much as 47 per cent before the declaration of independence now stands at 30.2 per cent, which, according to him, is still disturbing this scale.

He has said that the scale of extreme poverty is not high, this has marked decline compared to past years.

“Unemployment, this remains part of the most problematic, most chronic of our economy in the last ten years. Even though it is to say welcome a reduction in unemployment rate from 47.5 per cent to the current 30.2 per cent prior to the declaration of independence, still this rate is very high because at any moment it risks the country's social stability of” completely, Rukiqi has said.

According to him, the trade deficit is another challenge in this decade. He has also said that lack of serious foreign investment has been a challenge on this 10th anniversary as well.

Rukiqi for next period has sought solutions for state assets as it is for PTK and Trepca, the KSP reports.

OEK leader Gerjaliu has praised institutional leaders for reaching agreement with Montenegro for demarcation and expects this agreement to be resolved in parliament as soon as possible.