Limaj: Kosovar Fund deal with COSME to contribute to facilitating credit-taking businesses

Durim Limaj, chief of the cabinet of Trade and Industry Minister Endrit Shala, has participated in the anniversary of the foundation of the Kosovar Fund for Cremation Guarantee and in the signing of the agreement with the European Investment Fund regarding the COSME Programme.

Limaj stressed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry one of its main priorities also has access to local businesses.

“initiation of the COSME agreement and then signing it is aimed at providing another extraordinary opportunity so that our businesses can have another open door, gain experiences that make them equal to European businesses”, Limaj said.

He has thanked the European Commission and other international partners, like UAID and others for the continued support it provides for Kosovo both in terms of institutional formation, development of the legal framework, various regulatory reforms, as well as in terms of support to stimulate private sector development in Kosovo, in particular the development of entrepreneurship through various projects.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry “is a signatory to the COSME programme agreement, for which we also pay annual financial obligations at the international level and therefore have a key role in promoting this programme to relevan artists. Our goal is to make the programme operational in Kosovo. Also, in the ministry we have an official team, which is constantly announced by the European Commission for any possibilities and development under the programme, and we make sure that any information and opportunity is forwarded to potential beneficiaries at the right time”, Limaj said.

According to Limaj, this agreement, which is signed today, is very welcome news for our businesses, enabling easier access to finance.

Considering that, according to many research compiled by various international and local organisations, access to finance has been described as one of the biggest challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses, this Kosovar Fund agreement with the COOSME programme will contribute to making credit-taking easier and cheaper businesses. Given the Kosovo Fund's success in ensuring a large number of loans for small and medium-sized enterprises, I have no doubt that this agreement with COSME will only reinforce the role of the Fund”, Limaj said.