Political crisis has created dramatic situation in the country

In addition, director Zeka says that this meeting has also discussed the need to overcome open issues between Kosovo and Serbia, and to create the possibility that businesses, whether American or domestic investors, can create new jobs and a better perspective for the country's young, so that they can find more reason to stay in Kosovo.

OECA leader Arian Zeka in an interview for Kosovo Preress has also spoken about the political crisis in the country, which, according to him, has created a dramatic situation. Likewise, Zeka also raised the issue of blocking the energy project “new Kosovo” and the failure of the American economic zone in Gjakova.

“What was the best part of this meeting with Ambassador Green was the possibility of businesses operating in Kosovo giving their concrete recommendations on issues they face in their operations. There was also the idea of the functioning of the Kosovo-Serbia railway, which later concreteised following his trip to Belgrade. Likewise, the need for finalisation of construction or road connection through a highway between Kosovo and Serbia. On the other hand, we have an investment that has been made by the European Union for building a new border crossing facility under the so-called integrated border management system at Merdare, which is not functioning today because Serbia's state refuses to deploy. It was the business requirement that this border point be functional so that it could speed up procedures of people and goods being passed on to the businesses and economies of both states. However, the important point of the discussions was also the need for the removal of the fee on the part of Kosovo authorities as a barrier which is hindering free trade now and more than a year”, Zeka says.

The head of the OEC, speaking of the political crisis in the country, states that in addition to the 2020 budget disapproval, the political stalemate has also influenced the ban on reform to improve the business-making environment.

According to Zeka, the proper and complete failure of institutions at the central level has made it impossible to advance reforms both in the rule of law, the result of fighting corruption, but also important bills regulating tax fields and tax administration function, as well as the ATK reports with taxpayers.

The “is a very dramatic situation, even if we now add the need for the country to have a budget approved by the Parliament. The year 2019 was envisioned for economic growth to be somewhere between 4.2 per cent and 4.5 per cent, the same have been forecasts of local and international institutions, and year-end reports have shown that some 350m euros for capital investments have not been spent at all on the part of our country institutions. If we bear in mind that economic growth in Kosovo is mainly driven by diaspora remittances and capital investments, then that we can now calculate damage”, he declares.

The director in the OAK states that government initiatives should receive epilogue, without avoidance, even the need for changing legislation regulating the functioning of economic areas.

For the creation and functioning of the American economic zone, Zeka says it is necessary to meet the current economic area law change so that the delivery of fiscal incentives and others to investors aimed at settling within these areas is also possible.

“We as the American Ode have given our recommendations as to benefits or spaces that should be offered for investors aiming to be placed inside the area, but also as to how the area should be developed, how should the area be managed, since if the same continues to be managed by the state would be a burden to the public budget. However, we have proposed another model where a combination between the public and private sector would take over the development of the area and, of course, the delivery of the parcel would do the development of basic infrastructure, sewage treatment, irrigation, road leading to the American economic zone, and what is most important on the part of the Gjakova municipality is the solution to public transportation. We have even asked for a special law for the American economic zone, but because of circumstances and political circumstances by the end of July last year and beyond, it really couldn't go beyond”, Zeka says.

As for the energy project “New Kosovo”, O director The EAK, claims that how hode supports this project, but praised it as the most painful story in the last 15 years when this project has begun and has not yet received the final epilogue.

We as the American Ode have supported the new Kosova energy project. The first one, because it would offer solutions with generating local electricity. Second because it would help extract or decommission T C Kosova A, and third because it is about a project that is involved in a company with American capital. I can appreciate it's the most painful story in all these years, it's been over 15 years when this project has begun and has not yet received the final epilogue. The current political situation, although the final decision should be made on the part of the assembly that has influence on the life of this project. It's something that puts us in a difficult position before the potential investor, but it's also a negative example that I believe will have negative echoes in other investors when it wants us to have such a project and such strategic sizes. In these five six months we haven't had a step in this regard”, he declares.

Finally Zeka said optimistic that the new government will take place, and will have a new, dynamic approach, and a more aggressive approach to promoting the country's potential before foreign investors.