As part of her visits to the municipalities of Kosovo, in order to obtain closer knowledge of overall situation, and in particular of the economic development, President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, visited today the municipality of Prishtina, where she was received by Mayor Shpend Ahmeti.
Presdient Jahjaga during this visit was accompanied by the Chairman of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Safet Gërxhaliu, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Mr. Arian Zeka and Executive Director of the German Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Albert Matoshi.
Mayor Ahmeti provided information on economic development of Prishtina municipality and problems faced by the local government and businesses which conduct their activities in this municipality.
Following are statements issued after the meeting:
President Atifete Jahjaga: We are here today together with the representatives of the three main chambers of commerce which operate in Kosovo, Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce and German Chamber of Commerce. We have just concluded the meeting with Mayor of Prishtina, Mr. Ahmeti, where we received detailed information on the level of economic development in municipality of Prishtina.
We also spoke about the difficulties, problems and challenges with which municipality of Prishtina is faced with. Now it is clear that level of economic development is closely related to creation of best conditions for investments and for attraction of foreign investments, without administrative barriers, in full reign of law and order and in fair competition.
The aim of these visits of mine with the chambers of commerce, is to address them in a direct manner , as soon as possible, in order to offer opportunities to investors, to see the potentials for their investments in the Republic of Kosovo, in all municipalities of Kosovo and also to intensify inter-institutional coordination for obtainment of institutional solutions to all these difficulties we are faced with.
Shpend Ahmeti: We would like to thank President Jahjaga and representatives of the chambers of commerce for their visit to Prishtina municipality. We have also in the past had regular meetings and discussions with madam President, during which we have discussed problems which Prishtina faces; and naturally, we are the capital of the Republic of Kosovo and are hosts of the whole administration, inclusive of the Presidency, and initially I would like to thank Madam President for the cooperation we have had so far.
Today, as Madam President also said, we have discussed the economic development, challenges and policies undertaken by as Prishtina municipality, and which we expect to develop in the coming months and years. We also heard from the representatives of the chambers of commerce about the grievances which businesses have, and as usual, some are valid for all municipalities and some are specific for Prishtina municipality.
I believe that this is a good initiative, which must be followed by other activities, recommendations and continuous dialogue with chambers of commerce, in order to implement in practice certain recommendations.
I also said it at the meeting, Prishtina apart from being the administrative capital, is also the economic capital of the Republic of Kosovo, and municipalities must take a greater role in economic development, as we are the first line of battle, of initial permits, permits which businesses obtain to exercise their activity, employment and of other strategic issues which each municipality has.
I believe that more discussions with municipalities must take place. Municipalities must have a greater role in policymaking on national level, as we know best the problems we are faced with.
Safet Gërxhaliu: It was a pleasure to talk to Mayor Shpend Ahmeti today about the challenges, processes and future activities of Prishtina municipality. It is high time that we have a more proper central to local levee communication. It is time for political decentralization to become economic decentralization and to really commence a proper communication.
Information arriving form grass root levels, from municipalities, must be really heard by central level, and it is time that more should be done and not only words to be said.
We welcomed the fact that education and professional skills training is a priority. Elimination of barriers is one as well. It is worth saying that President Jahjaga’s mission has uncontested value, as through this, substantial structural scanning is taking place of challenges and processes which municipalities are going through. I believe that on this direction it will be a contribution that all political processes also obtain the economic seal, which will be a guarantee of the economy of Kosovo.