Kosovo still does not have any strategic investors

Even though the Strategic Investment Law was adopted nearly two years ago in the Assembly, there are still no strategic investors in Kosovo, while 11 contracts for foreign investment have been signed in Macedonia for the past nine months and negotiated with about 200 other companies.

For two years, there are only five apps, like strategic investors in the field of energy, which have not yet been selected by Kosovo authorities.

Deputy Minister of Diaspores and Strategic Investments Arian Daci has told Kosovo that the first five apps, which are expected according to him, have so far been accepted, soon come up with concrete names for selecting these companies to invest in Kosovo.

The lack of strategic investors, Daci, has argued with shortcomings in the law.

 “Arsey is that we the new law for strategic investment has had some shortcomings and added drafts, as well as easy access to documents, we've probably influenced a little bit of delay over time, but our commitment is to have as many potential investors as possible”, Daci said. 

He has added that they are analyzing for better laws in the countries of the region, especially with Macedonia, because according to him, laws there are more favourable for investments.

 “We are analyzing and agreeing to the best laws with the region. It is known that there are very interested in Macedonia and the investment law has extremely large facilities for them, but we are on our way to approach and make it as easy for investors to come and invest in Kosovo”, Daci has said.

While Diaspore Minister in Macedonia Edmund Ademi tells Kosovo that the Government of Macedonia at the end of last year brought the State Economic Development Programme and on the basis of the programme has also adopted the Law on Investment Support, where parliament passed the law several days ago, and that law, according to him, is now treating foreign investors equal to domestic investors and diaspora investors.

He said that for the first time, by law, the diaspora is guaranteed state support for investment, primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises.

 “In the sense that the state in addition to the support it receives on the basis of the investment it has and the jobs it opens, plus that even 10 per cent state supports if the person or company comes from representatives of the diaspora of the Republic of Macedonia, so that somehow positive discrimination against others and in order to motivate, we deliver in the sense of supporting our citizens who live and act abroad... For the last 11 months of this government's position, either from June last year until now we have signed about 11 contracts with foreign investors from Europe who are known investors. At the moment there are 20 foreign investment agreements to be concluded, said Minister Ademi.

Meanwhile, he added that all economy sector ministers are discussing and negotiating with about 200 foreign companies coming from around the world, primarily from the United States of America and the European Union.