Stick to the topic, and keep your crap for yourself ;) ! I didnt find any similiar thread for Kosova, so its about time someone opened one.. Please give constructive comments, and try to stay on topic....

Kosova: 200 million EUR investments by Telecom Slovenia


Prishtina, 5 October 2007 - According to the daily newspaper "Koha Ditore", officials of the winner for the second mobile phone operator tender in Kosovo, the consortium “Telekom Slovenia/Mobitel” and “Ipko Net” informed that SIM numbers will be launched by the end of the year.

According to Akan Ismaili, the director of the Kosovar partner Ipko Net, over €200 million of investments are being made and most of the amount will be paid by the main shareholder, Telekom Slovenija. “Our network will be one of the fastest built GSM networks in Europe. We are committed to our work in order to offer our product by the end of the year,” said Ismalji.

He added that services this operator will bring on the Kosovo market are similar to those of Telekom Slovenia, which is one of the most sophisticated mobile operators in Europe.

Drition Halili, Head of Vala, a mobile phone operator of Kosovo Telecom (PTK), said that PTK and Vala are welcoming the competition and are ready to compete in the market.

ECIKS

Kosovo Government to finance the new highway



Prishtina, 1 October 2007 - According to the Kosovar daily "Koha Ditore", the Kosovo Government has decided on new steps related to the construction of the Merdare-Morine highway, connecting Kosovo with the neighbouring Albania. The complete process of land expropriation will be financed by the Kosovar Government with 50 million EUR, whereas another 200 million EUR from the budget, according to the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework 2008-2010, will be used as potential investment for the highway.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) did not include the specific highway project in its project financing plan so far. Minister of Economy and Finances, Haki Shatri previously said that the Government will not spend any money on the highway. But, the Minister of Transport and Post Telecommunication (MTPT), Qemajl Ahmeti, confirmed the opposite by saying that the project can be implemented with the money from the Kosovo Consolidated Budget, since the average amount of investment is 100 million EUR per year. The highway is planned to be constructed within the next 5-6 years

11,5 millions investment for "Xella"



Lypjan, 26 September 2007 - The brick factory in Lypjan “Xella” has started with the production of “Silka” bricks. The factory is a €11,5 million investment of “Xella International” and “Haro Trade”. “Xella will produce Silka construction bricks by using local raw material and processing it by German technology,” said Samir Krasniqi, director of “Xella Kosovo” in the inauguration ceremony. Present at the ceremony were representatives of local and international institutions. “After the flag is raised and the status is defined, I see a bigger investment since there is going to be a big flux of investors,” said Joachim Ruecker, head of UNMIK. Kosovo President, Fatmir Sejdiu, said that the investment show security and favorable conditions that Kosovo provides to foreign investors.

According to Krasniqi, Xella will produce construction blocks and decoration frontage bricks that are new in the kosovar market. “It is a new German technology and it is a modern factory. I promise that the quality of these products is a new force on the market,” said Klaus Steiner, general director of ‘Xella Alpe Adria”.

Big companies interested in Kosovo ski resort



Prishtina, 27 September 2007 - After the approval of the UN Legal Office in New York, the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) is preparing the privatisation of Brezovica ski resort. “The bid will be announced by using the special spin-off method and the opening of offers will be in the beginning of next year,” stated Ekrem Tahiri, KTA spokesman. According to him, the price will be determined by the market. The assets of the complex will all be in one tender and include the skiing center, three hotels and two restaurants. “We hope that some of five big groups that are interested will be part of the competition for the complex,” said Tahiri.

ECIKS


http://www.utsidan.se/obj/docpart/d9/d90c78614ccdca0b6fc1b2bb2d515afe.jpg


http://www.utsidan.se/obj/docpart/c7/c7bed02e87adcb5ec3f1f3d0cf744953.jpg

Kosovo amends Tax Law to Encourage Foreign Investment


Prishtinë, October 25, 2007 – Kosovo has become more attractive for foreign investors. After a change in legislation, tax rules are now in accordance with the practice in European countries. When a foreign entrepreneur used to pay taxes as soon as he entered Kosovo (and maybe only stayed for a couple of days), he will now only be taxed after 180 days. The Amendments to the Regulation on Personal Income Tax and on Corporate Income Tax have recently been signed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, SRSG Joachim Ruecker.

Background: Following the 37th meeting of the Kosovo’s Economic and Fiscal Council held on 12 June 2007, the SRSG has promulgated UNMIK Regulation 2007/23, which amends the UNMIK Regulation on Corporate Income Tax and Personal Income Tax. The amendments entered into force on 6 August 2007. The amended parts of the tax regulations are the parts concerning ‘Permanent Establishment’.

Previous Permanent Establishment rules in Kosovo did not conform to international standards, which created difficulties especially for international companies, because they were not sure for which parts of their business in Kosovo they had to pay taxes.

According to international practice, a country should tax only those profits of an enterprise that are derived from business activities of a ‘permanent establishment’ in that country, which can for example mean a certain amount of time a company has to do business in a foreign country before it will be taxed (usually 180 days). The exact definitions for what falls under ‘permanent establishment’ are outlined in the OECD Model Tax Treaty and Commentary as well as in the UN Model Treaty and Commentary and are understood by the international community. The recent amendments in the Corporate Income Tax Law and the Personal Income Tax Law are now very similar to the international standard and make it much easier for international companies to plan their economic activities in Kosovo.

ECIKS (Source: DSRSG Office)

Kosovo to export wood products to Italy


Prishtina, 22 October 2007 - Kosovar wood products will soon be offered in the Italian market. The Association of Wood Processors (AWP) has signed an agreement with the biggest wood processing association in Italy, “Federlengo”. This agreement enables Kosovo to produce for the Italian company.

The agreement was reached in a multi-sector activity organized by the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC) and “Infromest” company. “Kosovar companies have the capacity to produce and export their products and not only to import foreign products,” said Besim Beqaj, Head of KCC.


ECIKS / Koha Ditore

Kosovo's Economy: From Consolidation to Sustainability



Prishtinë, October 22, 2007 - The extensive economic reforms undertaken since 1999 are finally having an impact on the private sector performance. For the first time since 1999, clear signs of sustainable economic growth are visible, and the private sector carries that growth. In addition, as a result of successful privatisation and industrial restructuring, Kosovo again is starting to export the products of its traditional industries where potential for further growth is large. The agricultural sector is also showing signs of growth and improved competitiveness.

In the past several years, many observers stated an ironic disparity between the strong success in the conduct of economic reforms in Kosovo and the weak performance of Kosovo’s private sector. While UNMIK and the local institutions of Kosovo, assisted by bilateral and multilateral donors, have managed to create the foundations of a modern economic system, the performance of Kosovo’s economy remained weak. Thus, it was obvious that even with extensive reforms, results would not occur overnight.

Now notwithstanding a significant reduction in foreign assistance and public expenditures, Kosovo’s GDP is estimated to have grown by about 3% in 2006. Clearly, this time growth was not driven by increased public expenditure or donor spending, but by a better performance of the private sector. Several economic indicators also signalled improved economic performance. After a fall in 2005, Kosovo’s exports grew remarkably in 2006 by 54%, with a modest growth of imports by 5%. Furthermore, the rate of non-housing private investment grew impressively by 61% and lending to the private sector also increased. If the momentum of economic reforms is sustained, GDP should continue to grow, probably at an accelerated rate.

Macroeconomic stability was maintained in 2006, albeit challenged by a number of fiscal initiatives that could have jeopardized it. The rate of inflation stood near zero, in spite of accelerating economic activity. Government spending was kept within the prescribed and sustainable levels, in line with a Letter of Intent, which the Government of Kosovo signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2005. However, maintaining reasonable spending has not been easy, partly due to pressures to increase social benefits for war invalids and families of deceased soldiers. The importance of maintaining a sustainable and pro-growth expenditure structure can hardly be overestimated. This norm is especially important in the light of the expected status resolution, which will bring new fiscal liabilities: Kosovo is likely to assume a portion of the old Yugoslav debt and will have to incur additional spending to finance the new public bodies that will be established following the transfer of further competencies from UNMIK and progress in the decentralization process. On the other hand, some of the existing sources of public revenue, such as those derived from the presence of UNMIK and its staff, cannot be sustained in the long run.

The privatisation process continued at the remarkably fast pace that was set already in 2005. Privatisation brought significant cash and investment commitments. The process of liquidation of insolvent enterprises gathered speed and is now well under way. Importantly, the privatisation process has been both very fast and highly transparent, probably more so than any privatisation in the whole region. At the same time, the Kosovo Trust Agency made significant progress in incorporating the Publicly Owned Enterprises (POEs), a crucial task for improving their corporate governance.

In 2006, Kosovo marked new milestones on its regional integration agenda; most notably it became a member of the enlarged Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA). Finally, the Government has made noteworthy progress in facilitating the project to develop Kosovo C power plant, which would be the largest investment in the history of Kosovo whose contribution to GDP and public budget will be massive.

Kosovo’s economic development hinges on maintaining and building upon the economic foundations, which have so far been put in place. Kosovo’s economic development is still most severely constrained by interruptions in the electricity supply, weak capacity of public institutions, and the lack of adequate skills in the labour market. While there are a number of other obstacles to Kosovo’s economic growth, the ones above underpin the factors that create the most binding constraints to economic growth. Devising a well-informed, prioritised, sequenced, and achievable strategy to remove those constraints and committing resources to its implementation will be essential for Kosovo’s economic future. The government will not only have to maintain the fiscal stability and progress achieved on other reform fronts, but will have to undertake bold steps ahead by staying in the same path. In particular, efforts to secure uninterrupted power supply and to further improve the financial viability of Kosovo Energy Cooperation (KEK) should remain on top of the agenda as this is an immediate and serious obstacle to foreign and domestic investment alike.

In the fiscal realm, public investment has to be given the top priority, expenditures on public salaries have to be contained, and social expenditures should carefully target poverty reduction. Tax structure has to remain simple, but strong efforts have to be made to improve internal revenue collection. Furthermore, if the capacity of public institutions is to be improved, a new salary scheme should be considered to allow higher pay for key staff while keeping the overall amount of spending on public salaries within reasonable limits. At the same time, the Government has to ensure merit-based hiring and promotion policies within the public sector.

Source: Economic Policy Office of the EU/UNMIK Pillar IV

Kosovo Business Park: Calls for Expressions of Interest



Prishtinë, October 18, 2007 – The Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Support Agency of Kosovo, which is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Trade and Industry has published a Call for Expressions of Interest from Companies wishing to locate at the Business Park in Drenas.

The planned business park of Drenas is located around 20km from the capital Prishtina and 5km from the Prishtina International Airport. The park will consist of 130 hectares, making it one of the most exciting developments in the region. The establishment of this Business Park coincides with a number of other developments such as the construction of the highway from Albania to Kosovo as well as the settlement of the political status of Kosovo.
The park will include a number of specific zones including:

- Flagship Manufacturing Zone;

- Domestic Incubator Zone;

- Warehousing and Distribution Zone;

- Office Zone;

- Hotel and Conference Zone;

- Food Zone;

- Retail and Service Zone.

The master plan for the entire zone is in preparation and much of the infrastructure for the first phase is already in place. Early participants in the project will be provided with “first mover advantage” benefits once demand is assessed.

The business park will provide modern, fully serviced facilities with all necessary supporting infrastructure, including water and electricity supply, sewerage and waste disposal. Flexible occupancy options will be available, including rental or purchase of either standard units or custom-built premises.

Interested parties are invited to contact the SME Support Agency for a registration form to register for an Information Pack when it becomes available and an invitation to an information seminar. For further information visit: http://www.sme-ks.org/

Kosovo Business Week launched in Prishtina:

(KTV, TV21, most dailies)
The media reports that the Kosovo Business Week has been launched in Pristina with the slogan “I consume local products, but do you?”

The objectives of the Business Week are to increase the awareness of customers towards local products, improve the communication between local producers and customers, improve economic policies for creating a good business environment, and ensure a continuous communication between the Kosovo institutions and the private sector.

According to officials of the Kosovo institutions, Kosovo’s economy has grown every year due to the development of local businesses. The Business Week will promote local products across Kosovo. 40 local companies are participating.

I will be posting some pages from this Brochure later on:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6572/economyqh6.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9782/economy1ty7.jpg

26 companies from Ireland and Scotland interested to invest in Kosovo (several dailies)

Several of the written media reported on the press conference held by officials of the Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI). MTI Minister Bujar Dugolli is quoted as saying that more than 26 companies from Scotland and Ireland are interested in investing in Kosovo, in particular in the establishment of a business incubator in Peja.

Minister Dugolli also informed that the Office for Promoting Kosovar Business has already been opened in these two countries, hence the interest of the companies. The companies are mostly focused in developing the sectors of agriculture, trade and industry. Contacts between Kosovo’s central institutions and several of these companies have already been set for sake of the business incubator, expected to cost some €1.5m, reported Koha Ditore.

KEK and Alstom the bigger debtors of the budget (Zeri, Kosova Sot)

The Kosovo Tax Administration (TAK) has presented yesterday its nine months report on tax collection. Jonuz Krasniqi, TAK General Director, said during the period January-September the debt of the tax payers is some €230m, out of which KEK owes €61m. Krasniqi added that the debt of international companies is €28m where the biggest debtor is the French conglomerate “Alstom” with €7m. According to Alstom’s webpage, during the period 2006-2007, the income from sale is some €14 billion. The TAK has collected €32m more than during the same period last year and €9m more than foreseen.

Why not cancel the tax law all together for corporations and become a second Isle of Man?

^^ I think actually it would be a good idea to establish a free trade zone, to boost economic development... But not to cut all corporation taxes in Kosova entirely...

Big companies interested in Kosovo ski resort

Old news ;)

The Kosovo Privatisation Agency cannot sell this resort, as it is owned by the Serbia-based corporation, Inex Interexport. :cheers:

There shall be no plundering.

On a side note, I heard about a "Kosovo C" power plant in development... Anyone have more information?

Old news ;)

The Kosovo Privatisation Agency cannot sell this resort, as it is owned by the Serbia-based corporation, Inex Interexport. :cheers:



It has just been postponed temporarily by the New York office, (await the status issue I guess) and in the mean time to attract more investors

On a side note, I heard about a "Kosovo C" power plant in development... Anyone have more information?

(The most recent news about this in the next post)

RWE has 3.5 billion Euro ready for Kosova C


The German company RWE AG took seriously the work on the Kosova C project. RWE AG is one of the forth selected companies for the biggest Kosovar tender, Kosova C. The company leaders are convinced that they will be winners of this tender, if its process will be just and transparent. John Jowet, chief of the RWE representative office for Kosova, has declared that if irregularities and non-transparency is noticed, they will withdraw from the tender. If everything works right, the biggest German energy producer is certain that it will win the tender. RWE bases this on its 100 years experience on energy production, being also world leader for pulling out of lignite. The leaders of this company have promised that if they win the Kosova C tender, then they will firmly stick to European Union rules for environment, while the new thermocentral will start working by 2012.

RWE representatives declared that they have billions ready for investments in Kosova’s energy. "We already have 3.5 billion Euro from the corporate revenue and we do not need to take any loans", declared Jowet.

According to RWE, the construction of Kosova C capacities can start in the middle of 2008. The 2000 megawatts giant will be built within four years.

Besides, Manfred Kehr, vice president of the RWE Company for TC project planning, promised employment of local labor force, where in the works’ culmination will be hired around 6.000 local employees.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines has not composed the final project yet, while the Leading Committee has already been provided with help from consultants, who have international reputation. The tender was supposed to end at the end of this year, when it was supposed to announce the winner, who would start workings at the end of 2008. But, the tender is not ready even to be announced, as a consequence of final project.

Apart from RWE, other competitors are also the CEZ/AES consortium from Czech Republic /USA, EnBW/WGI from Germany/ USA and Enel/Sencap from Italy/Greece and USA.

Kosovo C tender postponed due to elections?!

Prishtinë, November 3, 2007 (Express) – Because of the general and local elections that will take place on 17 November, the tender announcement for the project Kosovo C will be postponed. According to the Kosovar Daily Express, the elections might change the managers of the project and can be considered as one of the main obstacles for the project implementation. According to officials of the Project Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by Minister of Energy and Mining (MEM) with participants from other Ministries, UNMIK, KTA and donors, the undefined status of Kosovo does not present any problem for the tender to be announced as planned.

Officials from the World Bank in Kosovo, said the PSC has given good signals, that there will be no postponement of the project. But, according to them, the representation of the Government will depend on the elections and on how fast a new Government will be formed.

“Meanwhile, the office of the project will continue to work with consultants on drafting the technical and transactional materials to be reviewed by the PSC,” said Edon Vrenezi, operations official in the World Bank Kosovo.

Forming the new Government does not exclude the possibility of changing the PSC group, since there is a possibility that the new Minister of MEM will be someone else, not Ethem Çeku.

“The possibility can not be excluded,” said Lorik Haxhiu, from PSC. He added that the works are continuing with the same dynamic. If everything goes as planned the tender will be announced by the end of the year, eventually beginning of next year.

Officials of the pre-qualified companies believe the tender will be announced as planned.

ECIKS

RWE has 3.5 billion Euro ready for Kosova C

Sounds like a very ambitious project. Just to put into perspective, the closed Chornobyl power plant produced 1000 megawatts, so this will be twice as powerfull. However, would this power plant be able to alleviate Albania's energy porblems?

Sounds like a very ambitious project. Just to put into perspective, the closed Chornobyl power plant produced 1000 megawatts, so this will be twice as powerfull. However, would this power plant be able to alleviate Albania's energy porblems?

Indeed it is a very ambitious project.. Then again it is connected to Kosovas gigantic resources of coal, one of the biggest coal fields in Europe..
2000 megawatts will once and for all end the energy crisis in Kosova, but alot will also be exported... It would have been able to help Albania out, but by then in 2012, Albania will have own energy projects completed I believe (they also have big energy projects going on)...

Albanians from Albania will be buying power from Kosovo now? ;)


Albania is planning on having a total of 30 new power plants built all over the country through concession contracts in addition to a major Natural Gas Plant which will supply the whole region with energy once complete.;)
Just because we dont post the news here doesnt mean it's not happening, you know what i'm saying.

Albania is planning on having a total of 30 new power plants built all over the country through concession contracts in addition to a major Natural Gas Plant which will supply the whole region with energy once complete.;)
Just because we dont post the news here doesnt mean it's not happening, you know what i'm saying.


COrrect me if i am wrong, but i also heard that some french and american companies are interested in building a nuclear power plant in albania as well.
I personaly think that is not neccessary and is a recepee for disaster given that Albania experiences frequent minor earthquakes throughout the year. But this goes to show that, foreign companies view Albania as a stable and safe place to invest.

And here is the map of Serbian power plant system including Kosovo:

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/290/transmissionsystemmaphg7.jpg

What's the current state of power supply in Albania(and Kosovo too)? A quick google gives a lot of articles talking about long power cuts(I guess they are talking about the winter time)

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/articles/2007/07/02/reportage-01

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2005/11/08/feature-02

http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8677184

What's the current state of power supply in Albania(and Kosovo too)? A quick google gives a lot of articles talking about long power cuts(I guess they are talking about the winter time)


current state of power supply is very bad in both Albania and Kosova.. Energy crisis.. In Kosova the power supply comes from "Kosova A" and "Kosova B", but they are really old and in desperate need of modernisation, and constant reparations.. At the same time the energy demand is growing everyday, but it cant be met with current state.. The new project "Kosova C" will however eliminate all these problems (plus renovate A and B), and in addition export energy...

COrrect me if i am wrong, but i also heard that some french and american companies are interested in building a nuclear power plant in albania as well.
I personaly think that is not neccessary and is a recepee for disaster given that Albania experiences frequent minor earthquakes throughout the year. But this goes to show that, foreign companies view Albania as a stable and safe place to invest.

Yes, french company "Suez".
It's just a proposal for now and i doubt it would be approved.

Actually they will buy power from EPS, one day, when they return the property, as i said many times. As i know, it really is a property of EPS.

That's very true, but as of 1999, when UNMIK took over the administration of Kosmet, EPS wasn't allowed to operate their power plants down there. There were 8000 Serbs working there as well, but the face of the company changed. And now the agency run by UNMIK wants to sell those power plants? This is a perfect example of plundering.

IMO a modern nuclear reactor would be more efficient for Kosmet.

Nuclear plant in Albania? This costs hell lots of money...and you need enough skillful nuclear engineers. At least 2-3 billion euro for the plant and another 1-2 billion for the remaining infrastructure, security, etc. You need a 80 diameter no-fly area, you need the military to take down each potential air terrorist (no, I'm not joking, I've been to Kozloduy). And you need 2 more important things - a great supply of cold fresh water (e.g the Danube river in our case)...and a safe route for transportation of nuclear fuel. Furthermore, you need a relatively seismic-safe area, as well as a place to bury radioactive waste, which is very hard to find since noone wants this in his backyard. Keep in mind that there is hell lot of pressure from ecologists and some EU parties and organizations to ban nuclear energy and a potential new one means a great political battle. Are you still sure you want a NPP in Albania?

Nuclear plant in Albania? This costs hell lots of money...and you need enough skillful nuclear engineers. At least 2-3 billion euro for the plant and another 1-2 billion for the remaining infrastructure, security, etc. You need a 80 diameter no-fly area, you need the military to take down each potential air terrorist (no, I'm not joking, I've been to Kozloduy). And you need 2 more important things - a great supply of cold fresh water (e.g the Danube river in our case)...and a safe route for transportation of nuclear fuel. Furthermore, you need a relatively seismic-safe area, as well as a place to bury radioactive waste, which is very hard to find since noone wants this in his backyard. Keep in mind that there is hell lot of pressure from ecologists and some EU parties and organizations to ban nuclear energy and a potential new one means a great political battle. Are you still sure you want a NPP in Albania?

You are absolutely right... But this was just a proposal from some foreign company wanting to invest in Albania. It will most probably never be approved. The population in some areas are even protesting against gas/oil energy plants.. imagine nuclear power....

PTK donates money to poor families (KTV, several dailies)

Together with the War Veterans and Invalids Association, PTK has made a donation in the value of €9,600 for 225 families of martyrs, invalids and war veterans living in poor economic conditions. As reported, the donation included flour, sugar, oil, pasta, meat, sausage, potatoes, beans, tea, rice, salt, drinks, red pepper, soup and Turkish ‘lloukum’.

The families of those who benefited highly appreciate the donations, especially during this time of the year. They believe that the Kosovo institutions should also undertake such actions.

Etrur Rrustemaj, Managing Director of PTK said that these families should never be forgotten as they have contributed greatly to Kosovo. KTV reports that PTK intends to continue with distributing the donations.

this may not really be anythign big....but i think all the current problems are covered that Kosovo is facing right now:

Pillar IV questionnaire with Head of Airport Afrim Aziri (Zeri)

The greatest economic development in Kosovo since 1999?
One of the developments worth mentioning is the slow but good development of legislation for a market economy along the European system. One of the main pillars of economic development is the continuous operation of the airport ever since the first days after the war, serving thus as Kosovo’s linking bridge to the world.

The main obstacles of economic progress?
The lack of defining Kosovo’s final status, the lack of support from the international monetary institutions, judicial obstacles and a truly complicated bureaucracy in the Kosovo institutions, which leaves enough space for abuse and impedes the genuine development of all sectors.

You have €10m. Where (in Kosovo) would you invest?
I would divide the amount of €10m into three types of investments:
recreational aviation - sports, tourism and agriculture.

Kosovo, a place of coffee bars and petrol stations. Why is there nothing in between?
First of all, that would be due to the lack of original ideas and creativity, the insecurity in the return of investments, unfavorable conditions and fiscal policies. All of this is a result of the lack of a micro and macro-economic development strategy.
There is nothing in between because the status quo and the dirty waters are convenient to everyone.

European integration – Kosovo on the right track?
Bearing in mind the fact that Kosovo is geographically positioned at the heart of South-Eastern Europe, I can say that work has been done in that direction.

Your greatest achievement in your post?
The establishment of air transport and an institution with the first generation of professionals qualified by the International Civil Standards of Aviation, the development of the airport’s general infrastructure towards international certification.

The book you are currently reading?“Elimination/the opposites of laws by Joseph Murphy and the war against gravitation in Kosovo”

Kosovo in a single sentence?
Beautiful, majestic, shook up, but with a perspective.

Inkos studies reserve coal in Kosovo (Infopress)

Inkos institute has finished the draft of the study “Assessment of research and geological coal reserves in Kosovo”. According to the director of Inkos, Beqir Xhema since 1920 in Kosovo many researches were done for coal reserves and many geological documents were drafted. Inkos initiated a re-assessment of researches and coal reserves, whereas the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MEM) showed interest in drafting this research. “Inkos has engaged experts from Kosovo and Albania for a successful study,” said Xhema.

Estimated reserves of coal are: the balance reserves of coal are 9, 050, 501,288 tons, un-balance reserves 1,319,223,481 tons and geological reserves 10,369,724,770 tons. “This study will be a valid document to set policies and action plans for resource and mines management as well as their future development,” said Xhema.

Well, the EU is comming some day soon :)

EZ9lhoo8fZo

Kosovo's budget for year 2008 will soon be presented to the parliament for a vote.

Coming year spendings will be 1.027 billion Euros.

642 milion euros for the Provisional Instituions
184 milion euros for municipalities
197 milion euros for reserves

From those three amounts, theres more division and it goes like this:
18 milion euros for healthcare
81 milion euros for education
35 milion euros alocated for the post-status needs, such as the creation fo the foreign ministry.
38 milion euros for the energy section
32 milion euros to build new schools

etc:

I personally think its a pretty shitty budget, but in comparison from previous years, its better. 2 years ago it was in the 600-700 milion mark, now its in the billion mark. As long as there is an increasei guess.


Projektbuxheti i vitit 2008 iu procedua kuvendit

Qeveria e Kosovës i ka proceduar sot Kuvendit të Kosovës projektbuxhetin për vitin 2008, i cili kap shumën prej 1 miliard e 27 milionë euro, që është bindshëm më i madh se në vitet e kaluara. Ministri Haki Shatri, gjatë prezantimi të buxhetit, tha se rritja është bërë në saje të të hyrave brenda këtij viti dhe ato që priten vitin e ardhshëm. Buxheti i Kosovës për vitin 2008 do të miratohet pas konstituimit të Kuvendit të ri.
Në një konferencë për media, Ministri i Ekonomisë dhe Financave, Haki Shatri, tha se shpenzimet për vitin 2008 do të jenë 1 miliard e 27 milionë euro, të cilat ndahen në tri kategori, institucioneve të përkohshme vetëqeverisëse u janë ndarë 642 milionë euro, komunat do të shpenzojnë 184 milionë, ndërsa për buxhet rezervë janë ndarë 197 milionë euro.
Nga buxheti i vitit të ardhshëm, sektorit të shëndetësi i janë ndarë 18 milionë, arsimit 84 milionë, ndërsa të hyrat vetanake janë 37. 5 milionë.
Ministri Shatri si risi të këtij projektbuxheti përmendi ndarjen e 35 milionë eurove për periudhën e pas-statusit, që, sipas tij, ato do të përdoren për formimin e ministrive të reja. Ministri Shatri, mes tjerash, tha se fondi prej 210 milionë euro për paga nuk do të ndryshojë, pasi ky, sipas tij, është rekomandim i Fondit Monetar Ndërkombëtar, dhe nuk pritet qe vitin e ardhshëm të ketë ngritje të pagave. Ai bëri të ditur se sektorit të energjisë, për vitin e ardhshëm, i janë ndarë 38 milionë euro, që do të përdoren për riparimin e bllokut A5 të termocentralit Kosova A. Ndërkaq, për ndërtimin e objekteve shkollore janë paraparë 32 milionë euro, ndërsa janë ndarë rreth 2 milionë euro për sigurimin e mjeteve falas për nxënësit e shkollave fillore.
Shatri njoftoi po ashtu se që nga janari i viti të ardhshëm do të ketë rritje të pensioneve në shumë prej 35 euro, ndërsa po ashtu është siguruar një fond për pjesëtarët e TMK-se që do të dalin në pension të parakohshëm.
Ministri Shatri pranoi se në projekt-buxhetin e viti të ardhshëm nuk janë ndarë mjete për zbatimin e kontratës kolektive, edhe pse ishte premtuar se ajo shumë shpejt do të hyjë në fuqi.
Projekt-buxheti i është proceduar Kuvendit të Kosovës sot, mirëpo nuk pritet të miratohet para konstituimit të kuvendit të ri.

Kosovo: First Call in Ipko's GSM Network

Prishtinë, November 3, 2007 – According to a press release of Ipko Net experts of Telecom Slovenia, Mobitel and Ipko Net, have successfully made the first testing call, within the new Kosovo GSM Network. Ericsson's main connection point was in Prishtina, with the first base station also placed near by. The installations of the base stations planned during the first phase of the project are almost finished.

As already known, the Consortium between Telecom Slovenia, Mobitel and Ipko Net won this year the concession for second GSM mobile operation in Kosovo. Next week, international calls through the new network 049 will be tested.

The Consortium has already started to implement their promise that the first part of GSM network will start functioning by the end of the year.

According to Ipko Net, over €200 million of investments are being made and most of the amount will be invested by the main shareholder, Telecom Slovenia.

ECIKS

Rahovec wines, production ambassadors for Kosovo


Ekonomisti -
Rahovec wine shows that Kosovars have an ancient culture and are on a level with modern European and world societies. “Our dream, our passion, our wine”, is the slogan of “Stonecastle” that leads the staff toward fulfilling the dream, to reach the level attained in earlier times, and to maintain the credibility of this production icon of Kosovo

Situated between two hillocks, on both sides of the Rahovec – Xerxë road, the “Stonecastle” wine house (“Kalaja e Gurit” in Albanian), is a castle of success and development. Divided into two parts, it produces several varieties of wine which are respected worldwide. The building on the right side of the road that goes over the hill finishes the red wine – the one on the lower side produces white wine. These castles of Rahovecian pride are situated 150 metres apart from each other, sufficient to avoid the mix of the wine raising agents, says Shani Mullabazi, general manager of “Stonecastle”.

The wine house in Rahovec is not merely a Kosovar castle, it is one of the five largest wine houses in the world and the third largest in Europe.

This giant was privatised on the first of August 2006, for a price of 5.2 million Euro, with commitments to invest a further 5 million, 3 million in the vineyard, and 2 million in the wine house. The successful bidder was Hari Bajraktari, the well-known Kosovar businessman who lives in the USA. He was not afraid to invest his money in Kosovo. He did this without any reservations, and has no doubts about success, it is said with pride in wine-house.

The wine-house has storage capacity for over 50 million litres of wine. It was not so at the beginning of the life of this prosperous Rahovecian castle. Rahovecians themselves built the wine-house in 1953. At that time, the wine-house had a storage capacity of 5 million litres. Later, in 1975, the wine-house expanded with the addition of 18 million litres. The success of its work allowed for a growth in capacity of a further 28 million litres seven years later.

Since the start of its operations, the wine-house of Rahovec exceeded expectations with its production. For the quality of its wine, there has always been a place on European dining tables. The Kosovar giant knew and knows to produce and export only high quality wine.

“A wine fit for aristocrats”, says Mullabazi.

In the 1980’s, the wine-house exported up to 42 litres of wine per day. The wine of Rahovec reached its peak and never fell from this level, known throughout the world for its quality. Even today, despite its long absence from the world market because of the events that befell Kosovo, the wine of Rahovec remains well known. It has deservedly become a production ambassador for Kosovo.

“Kosovo should be proud of Rahovec wine, because this shows that Kosovars have an ancient culture and are on a level with modern European and world societies”, said Mullabazi, smiling.

Now, the products of “Stonecastle” are being exported to Germany and other countries, but not packaged. They are exported in tanks. However, the day will soon come when bottled wine will be supplied to the market, helped by new technology that is being installed in the wine-house.

After the new fillers are installed, “Stonecastle” will export wine to several European countries. For this, the wine-house directors already have initial agreements with many countries including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Macedonia, etc, while they have a very good export business to the United States of America, where the wine-house owner, Hari Bajraktari, is from.

Hari, a well known businessman in the USA who has been very successful in the real estate business, has made his investment in the wine-house not just for his own profit. His investment has also restored the dignity and reputation of the Rahovec wine-house. He has also strengthened the resolve of the Rahovecian farmers to return to grape cultivation. Vineyards that for some time were left as moorlands, today are alive and full not only of grapes but of hope for the growing economic prosperity of many rural families. One of them is a farmer of around sixty years of age, who, speaking with a smile on his face for his vineyard, gazes at the wine-house.

“We are hard workers who had lost our brightness. Now the wine-house has brought it back to us”, says the old man.

This year, grape yields have been very good and of very high quality because of the good weather which was highly favourable for grape cultivation.

“This year’s grape harvest is considered to be the harvest of the century”, says Mullabazi.

At the time of its privatisation, the wine-house and the vineyards were in a difficult condition. Nowadays they have been revitalised and “Stonecastle” possesses over 530 hectares with planted vines, with plans to add another 1,700 hectares. Nevertheless, there will always be a place for private farmers, says Mullabazi.

Today, around 300 employees work in the wine-house. However, their number is increasing every day. At one time, the giant had more than 420 employees. Local farmers are major beneficiaries from the wine-house as well, with an assured market for cultivated grapes in this enterprise. Sales from this year’s harvest have been guaranteed. “Stonecastle” has bought the entire grape crop from farmers with the highest prices ever. This has helped the belief and ambition of Rahovecians to grow.

The investment of Hari Bajraktari in the wine-house of Rahovec provides an example to counter the hesitation often shown by potential investors and companies to invest in Kosovo. His precedent and the success it is enjoying indicates that Kosovo is a healthy location in which to develop economic activities.

“In Kosovo, security for investments is good. Each business, of course, carries its own risk”, says Mullabazi.
Florim Bajraktari, the son of Hari Bajraktari has instilled in the wine-house a working methodology and a healthy and friendly atmosphere, which are the keys to business success. What is mostly seen in the wine-house of Rahovec is the order, the hygiene and the hospitality. But Hari wants more and, besides the investments in new technology, he also cares for the external environment. The wine-house, with its investments, will continue to be a production ambassador for Kosovo to the world.




Some of the “Stone
Castle» winery products
The “Stone Castle” winery will soon
launch in the Kosova market these types
of wines: Cabernet Sauvignion,
Merlot, Pinot Noire, Amphora (red)
and Chardonnay, Riesling Rhine, Elena
(white). In this company, except for the
professional local staff, foreign experts
are also engaged, such as David Rowe,
a well known European enolog, who
also applies his professional activities
in Bordeaux, and also Peter Florance an
enolog from Australia. They cooperate with the enologs of
the «Stone Castle” company.

Officials of Kosovo Chamber of Commerce visit the region (Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re carried an article reporting that representatives of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, Director Besim Beqaj, and Head of Department for International Relations, Safet Gerxhaliu, have paid a visit to Macedonia and Albania on 14 of September. Various meetings were held with the Head of the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce Branko Azeski, the Albanian Head of Trade and Industry Chambers, Ilir Zhilla, Municipal Mayor of Ohrid Aleksandar Petreski and several Macedonian businessmen.

Topic of the discussions included an increase of cooperation between the countries of the region, in particular that of Kosovo, Albania and FYR Macedonia. The possibility to hold permanent meetings every couple of months and occasional fairs to be held was also discussed, reported Epoka e Re.

Banks lead the way


Foreign investment has not been completely absent until now. A greater number of investors is expected after the settlement of political status. So far, the total value of foreign investment reaches the figure of 800 million Euro, without including financial assistance and humanitarian aid. The largest investments are concentrated in the banking sector

The banking sector has seen the heaviest international investment in Kosovo so far. The opening of ProCredit Bank and Raiffeisen Bank resulted in the purchase of a considerable amount of the share capital of other private banks in the country.

Banka e Re e Kosovës (BRK)/the New Bank of Kosovo, has sold 77.75 per cent of its shares to the Slovenian bank Nova Ljubljanska Banka. The Slovenian banks did not stop at this.

Another Kosovar bank, Kasabank, has also sold part of its equity, though not as much as BRK. The Slovenian Faktor Banka has already purchased 25.1 per cent of the shares of Kasabank. In addition to this, Banka Kombëtare Tregtare from Albania has recently opened a branch in Prishtina.

Other banks with international reputations, such as BNP Paribas and CitiBank, are also very interested in investing in the Kosovar banking sector.

Besides these, Serbian banks are also showing interest in opening representative offices in Kosovo. Komercialna Bank has already been granted an operating licence by the Central Banking Authority.

But it is not just the banking sector which has been attractive for foreign investment in Kosovo, as international investment has been forthcoming in other sectors too.

Mst: Billions in investment are promised

Since the end of the war, 800 million Euro have been invested in Kosovo by foreign investors, without including financial assistance and humanitarian aid from international organizations.

The investment of these funds has been made in different ways, including through the privatization of socially-owned enterprises, and through investments in other sectors which were seen by foreign companies as having good potential for success.

To date, among the biggest international investors to have invested their money in Kosovo, are Slovenian Telekom, which has purchased 75 per cent of IPKO Net, and Alferon, which privatized Feronikel for a sum of 20 million Euro.

Figures from the Investment Promotion Agency speak also of great interest from major international companies that wish to invest in Kosovo in the future.

Large international companies are awaiting the resolution of political status to make concrete investments in Kosovo.

Energy, mines, road infrastructure, production, banking, and food processing are just some of the sectors in which major international businesses are expected to invest in Kosovo.

The well known drinks companies, Hellenic Coca Cola from Greece and Pepsi Cola, have also shown their interest in entering the Kosovar market, but also to export from here to other countries in the region.

The Investment Promotion Agency of Kosovo expects billions of Euro in foreign investment in the period after final status.

Contacts that officials of this Agency have had to date with potential investors indicate that international businesses are interested to expand their activities into Kosovo.

Economic experts and institutional leaders believe that the central geographical location and the natural resources that Kosovo offers create favourable conditions for investors.

Their view is that in the post-status phase, and with Kosovo a full signatory of CEFTA, foreign investors will no longer see Kosovo as an unsafe or closed country as it has been in the past.

Business registration data from the Business Registration Agency at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, also tell of the large number of international companies registered in Kosovo.

According to the figures of this Agency, there are 1,500 businesses registered so far from different countries. This shows that Kosovo is not unknown to international entrepreneurs and that their interest is growing day by day.

Cool, I'm interested to know what's the most important economic partner to Kosova and it's % import and export ?

For Canada, America respresents 70% of our exports.

Albanian Trade Bank opens branch in Kosovo (Lajm, RTK, KTV)

The Albanian Trade Bank has officially opened a branch in Kosovo on Friday. During an official ceremony with the participation of political and economic officials of the Kosovo institutions, it was said that the banking system in Kosovo is developing in clear and safe steps.

“It is very important to point out that foreign investors are not even waiting for Kosovo’s final status resolution, they are coming and invest here even before that,” stated Michell Svetchine, Head of the Central Banking Authority in Kosovo, reported Lajm.

The broadcast media reported that the bank has been granted a license by the Central Banking Authority of Kosovo. Other branches of the bank are expected to be opened in other cities of Kosovo as well.

Shareholders of the Albanian Trade Bank are Celik Holding from Istanbul with 60% of the shares, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with 20% of the shares and the International Financial Corporate with 20% of shares.

Ceku presents Kosovo C in Vienna (several dailies)

Ethem Ceku, Minister of Energy and Mining (MEM) together with an MEM delegation is participating in the fourth conference of the Economic Forum in Vienna. In a round table discussion “the energy sector – proposals and solutions for the region”, Ceku said that Kosovo C is a project that will make Kosovo become the energy superpower of the region. MEM officials informed that the delegation met with various Austrian companies and banks that showed interest in investing in Kosovo. It will be a two days conference attended by over 460 politicians, entrepreneurs, and experts from 32 countries.

EBRD buys shares of Pestova (Express)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has bought 33% of the shares of the Pestova potato processing company in Vushtrri/Vucitrn for €1,9m. The name of the potato chips product is Vipa. The EBRD will finance and support the company to grow its business and increase the potato processing.

Kosovo: Investors interested in energy and telecom

Vienna, 9 November 2007 - In the Vienna Economic Forum, Kosovo was represented by 20 participants from different institutions. Ethem Ceku, Minister of Energy and Mining, said that investors are very interested in the energy sector, especially the alternative energy. “We have presented the project of the hydroplant of Zhur for what we expect investments of €300 million for 300MW,” said Ceku. He also added that Kosova C project was also presented in the panel.

That $1 billion budget is very promissing news of what's to be expected in the future.

One billion dollars or euros?
For pure comparsion purposes, Montenegro's budget for 2008 will be 1.19 billion euros.
Or 1,746,212,260.17 USD

1.027 billion Euros

184 milion euros for municipalities, is that a subvention for municipalities, or the city budgets? What's Prishtina budget?

What are deposit rates like in Kosovo?

Airport increases the number of passengers (Kosova Sot)

According to airport spokesperson Skender Bucolli, Prishtina International Airport will soon receive the first conditional certification from Icelandic authorities. The certification is also be granted upon the increased number of passengers. Bucolli further says that at the beginning of the year another three additional airlines started operating in PIA: Atlas Jet flies to Turkey, SAS for Denmark and Air Berlin to Germany, whereas compared with last year the winter season begins with five more airlines. “It is needed to stress that except the increased number of airlines, the number of passengers increased by 11,5% and the number of flights by 4%,” said Bucolli.

Digitalization of land line telephony completed (several dailies)

PTK issued a press release informing the public on the removal of the last analogue central of the land line network to a new digital network. The last removal was in Brod village in Dragash municipality and has successfully completed the entire transfer of customers to the digital Next Generation Network (NGN). This has opened up new opportunities for voice and internet services to be provided. According to PTK, there are some 60,000 subscribers of land lines that have been transferred to the new digital network. “The new technology, in fact enables us to offer new services. It enabled the launching of the project ADSL as well as other projects that could not be implemented earlier,” reads the release.

AER: Procesi i privatizimit ka ndikuar pozitivisht në ekonominë kosovare
15.11.2007 13:56 ET Prishtinë (KosovaLive)

Zyrtarë të institucioneve vendore dhe atyre ndërkombëtarë në Kosovë, janë shprehur të enjten të kënaqur me ecurinë e procesit të privatizimit në vend, pasi që sipas tyre, nëpërmes këtij procesi kanë arritur që t’i bëjnë disa hapa që do të ndikojnë pozitivisht në ekonominë vendore.



Breif translation:

Process of privatization in Kosovo has had a positive impact in the economy. This was stated by local and international officials.

On the side note: 312 public enterprises have been privatized out of which, 545 new companies have been created. So far some 60 milion euros have been invested in these companies. As a result the export has increased.

In 2005 exports in Euro value were at 50 milion
In 2006 exports in Euro value were at 72 milion
in 2007 exports in Euro value are at 100 milion

and in 2008 it is projected to be at 250 milion euros.

I know it is ridiculously small, but the important thing is the sign of progress.

Qeveria e Maqedonisë zotohet për heqjen e barrierave për prodhimet kosovare
23.08.2007 17:33 ET Prishtinë (KosovaLive)

Ministrja e Ekonomisë së Maqedonisë, Vera Rafajlovska, i ka thënë të enjten në Shkup ministrit kosovar të Tregtisë dhe Industrisë (MTI), Bujar Dugolli se qeveria e këtij shteti do të heqë barrierat për produktet kosovare të cilat shiten në tregun maqedonas, për dallim nga e kaluara kush shumë kompani kosovare janë ballafaquar me këtë problem.

Brief Translation

The minister of economy of Macedonia has assured the minister of economy of Kosovo that the government of Macedonia will lift barriers for Kosovar products. In the past many company's from Kosovo have experienced difficulties in the Macedonian market due to these unspecified barriers.

^^

Huh???


Any specific cases or examples?

^^

Huh???


Any specific cases or examples?

I am not sure....but it is a believable news and a normal thing for governments to set up barriers for foreign businesses thus stimulating the local businesses.

I am thinking it could have most likely been some sort of extra taxation at the border.

Kosovo: ECIKS, KTA promote the privatisation of ski resort

Vienna, 7 November 2007 - In an event organized by the Economic Initiative for Kosova (ECIKS), representing the Investment Promotion Agency of Kosovo (IPAK) in German-speaking region, representatives of ECIKS and Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) have promoted the privatisation of the Kosovar ski resort Brezovica.

Speaking in front of Austrian potenial investors, ECIKS/IPAK Vienna representatives Kujtim Dobruna and Hamëz Morina provided an overview of progress and business and investment environment in Kosovo, while KTA leaders Ahmet Shala and Kirk Adams presented the privatisation process in Kosovo and the privatisation of Brezovica ski resort in detail.

Austrian potential investors and Austrian media have shown great interest in the privatisation of Kosovar ski resort and the event organized by ECIKS/IPAK Vienna. Austrians have an incomparable experience in winter tourism and their know-how could help Brezovica become the most attractive ski resort in South-Eastern Europe, in particular having in mind that Brezovica fulfils all geographical and climatic conditions.

The Office of IPAK in Vienna, implemented by ECIKS, was opened in November 2006 with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). The office provides free-of-charge and confidential services for potential investors interested in Kosovo.

I am not sure....but it is a believable news and a normal thing for governments to set up barriers for foreign businesses thus stimulating the local businesses.

I am thinking it could have most likely been some sort of extra taxation at the border.


No.

Why should it be believable if not even a slight hint into what it was is provided? Just a plain accusation. These kind of games are played by politicians unable to solve the problems of their own economies, so they start pointing fingers outside.

Macedonia has an extremely free trade policy. Total external trade to GDP ratio is above 80%. It is an obvious interest and stated strategic goal of Macedonia to have as open trade relations with as many trading partners as possible.

No.

Why should it be believable if not even a slight hint into what it was is provided? Just a plain accusation. These kind of games are played by politicians unable to solve the problems of their own economies, so they start pointing fingers outside.

Macedonia has an extremely free trade policy. Total external trade to GDP ratio is above 80%. It is an obvious interest and stated strategic goal of Macedonia to have as open trade relations with as many trading partners as possible.

Well like I said i am not really sure what those barriers are, but if your minister of Economy promissed to lift those barriers, there must have been barriers.

Well like I said i am not really sure what those barriers are, but if your minister of Economy promissed to lift those barriers, there must have been barriers.

I don't want to make a big deal of this, but without any specific info, I doubt the whole story. Journalists have a nasty habit of taking statements out of context or even inventing stuff for various motives. I'm not saying it is impossible, just highly unlikely that the story is true. If you find some additional info please post it.

What are the biggest export products of Kosovo?

There was quite a big item about Kosovo on the news here today. Of cours, it was about the elections; the conclusion was the new elected government might soon declare independence, but that none of the party's really know what to do to make Kosovo an economicly healthy country to live in.

It suprised me a little, since I see a lot of construction/development going on on this forum. It gave me more or less the idea, that the economic situation was getting better.

That was not the conclusion in the news-item though. They referred ao to an empty goldmine (and other mines) in Trepcha (serb. name) and foreign investors (factories) having problems with energy fall-outs (don't know exact English term). My question here is: is it really that bad the news told me and a tricky one, but I think it's worth a honest discussion; is independence for Kosovo from an economic point of view a good option and how do the people of Kosovo think about that.

There was quite a big item about Kosovo on the news here today. Of cours, it was about the elections; the conclusion was the new elected government might soon declare independence, but that none of the party's really know what to do to make Kosovo an economicly healthy country to live in.

It suprised me a little, since I see a lot of construction/development going on on this forum. It gave me more or less the idea, that the economic situation was getting better.

That was not the conclusion in the news-item though. They referred ao to an empty goldmine (and other mines) in Trepcha (serb. name) and foreign investors (factories) having problems with energy fall-outs (don't know exact English term). My question here is: is it really that bad the news told me and a tricky one, but I think it's worth a honest discussion; is independence for Kosovo from an economic point of view a good option and how do the people of Kosovo think about that.

Kosovo is in the transition phase, and it is normal to expect difficulties. Aside from the energy crisis, Kosovo has never really been any better from what it is today. It exported much more than what it does today, but the people of Kosovo did not benefit from that. All in all i think the media is exagerating a little bit. There is positive signs in the economic sector and those will only improve. The main reason why the economy is as bad as it is, is the combination of all efforts to solve the political status, and the lack of secuirity for foreign investment as a result of the status not being cleared. In addition, because Kosovo is not a state, it can not get loans from different international organization to kickstart the economy. I think it is fair to add corruption as a contributor to this result as well. But then again corruption is widespread everywhere in the balkans, but is mostly noticeable in the trees with less apples.

As far as "do i think independence is the righ solution from an economic point of view"...well
first, Serbia is not doing all that well it self. Its not like we want to be Independent from USA or some other powerful economy
Second, the people of Kosovo have never benefited under the Serb rule.
Third, Kosovo has a young, entrepreneur type population who are eager to work if given the chance.
4th Kosovo has a large diaspore who pure in there a billion dollars a year.

So in conclusion...in my opinion independence is all we need so that we can fully use our resoources.

My question here is: is it really that bad the news told me and a tricky one, but I think it's worth a honest discussion; is independence for Kosovo from an economic point of view a good option and how do the people of Kosovo think about that.

Kosova is currently a hostage of a status quo situation - and has been since the war... Before that we were hostage of Serbia...its not difficult to understand the economical problems in this context... I mean, its obvious and clear why Kosova cant develope as smoothly and fast under these circumstances (as it would without).. think of it:

1st from a short historical perspective: armed conflicts (before 98'), war, oppression, neglegence, discrimantion, no rights etc etc...
2nd: think of all the legal rights a sovereign country has (that most take for granted) but which are crucial (alfa omega) and wich also sets the foundation for economical development: legislation, representation in world organisations, embassies, foreign policies, loans etc etc (in order to attract foreign investors, but also in order to stimulate investments within the country)

how do you expect Kosova to develope "smoothly" and fast - without controlling all that mentioned above? When all these barriers are broken - with Independence - of course Kosova will have a much faster development than it has today... It explains itself ...

Acda: Brezovica ski-resort to be privatised in spring


http://www.eciks.com//english/news/photos/brezovica20110701.jpg


Prishtina, 17 November 2007 – Kosovar daily "Lajm" carried a full page interview with the Head of UNMIK Pillar IV, Paul Acda, on the issue of privatisation of the Skiing Center Brezovica.

Below are Paul Acda's answers on the privatisation of skiing resort Brezovica.

“During the last KTA Board meeting, the privatisation of Brezovica was not removed from the process. But the process of opening bids was delayed until spring since the potential for investments is quite great and more time is required for research. During the last meeting, the Privatisation Department has also issued brochures to be sent to foreign investors and the board approved a video. KTA participated at a conference in Vienna and has spoken to a great number of investors. The entire problem cannot be solved immediately as first the rules for special spin off should be set and we are currently discussing this with the management. Everything is going according to plan including the timeframe. The bids will be opened in spring of 2008. I have recently met with the Serbian Minister of Economy, who said that KTA cannot privatise Brezovica. However, based on the UN Resolution, it is clear that UNMIK has the authority to privatise it.

“Serbian Minister of Economy proposed to use the Serbian Agency for repairing the ski lifts. The hotels and restaurants can be privatised. He said that the Serbian Government intends to privatise Brezovica as it considers it to be its own property. It is clear that the municipality there and the people understand the importance of the privatisation of the enterprise. My obligation is for the entire process to proceed forward. All others, also a part of UNMIK have the same duty.

ECIKS

Kosovo: KTA launches the 30th wave of Privatisation


Prishtina, 17 November 2007 –The Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) formally launched the 30th wave of privatisation of "Socially Owned Enterprises" (SOEs).

The list of privatisation tenders for the 30th wave includes 9 SOEs. This will create 10 New Companies (NewCo’s).

All 10 NewCo’s will be privatized via regular spin-off.

The pre-qualification deadline is: January 16, 2008.
The Bid Date for submitting bids to the KTA is: January 23, 2008.

Following SOEs will be tendered in this round

NewCo Agricultural Land in Nec 2 L.L.C. - the main assets of this Subsidiary comprise agricultural land located in outskirts of the village of Sllatinë in Viti Municipality. The total land to be transferred to the Subsidiary is approximately 45 ha. Most of the land was used for growing wheat, barley and corn. However it has not been tended regularly in the last years.

NewCo Grafikos L.L.C. - is a printing house located in Gjilan town. The Subsidiary provides services like: printing school books, note books of different formats, labels, lank forms, prospects and different advertising materials. The main assets of this Subsidiary comprise the printing house premises located in Gjilan town that together with administration space comprise of 1,433m². The building was constructed in 1977 and it is in good condition. Total land area inside the fence is 3,510 m².

NewCo AC Turiqevci L.L.C. - provides the potential investor with an excellent opportunity for any types of business, comprising of 4,329m² of land, several buildings, as well as a convenient location in village Turiqevci, Skenderaj Region.

NewCo Nevolan L.L.C. - agriculture land, located in village Nevolane, municipality of Vushtrri, comprises of approximately 25 hectares of land.

NewCo Bujqësia - Agricultural Land Sverka L.L.C. - is located in Klinë Municipality. The landholding proposed for this tender includes approximately 85.3 hectares of agricultural land, located in cadastral zones of Sverka and Kliqina in Klinë Municipality.

NewCo Bujqësia Agricultural Land Kliqina L.L.C. - provides investors with the opportunity to acquire about 78.5 ha of agricultural land. The landholding is located in cadastral zones of Sverka and Kliqina in Klinë Municipality.

NewCo Fryti L.L.C. - with cooperative administration building and depots and approximately 1.06.52 hectares (1 0652 m²) of land.

NewCo Gadime Quarry L.L.C. - is located in Gadime, Municipality of Lipjan, and includes a land parcel of approx. 62,904 m². The Enterprise in the past was composed of "Lignite Quarry" which since 1990's is not operating and the "Stone Quarry" called today "Seperacioni i Gurëve". This Enterprise is involved in production of Gravel fractions and Filer (stone power) required mostly for the road construction.

NewCo Agricultural land Shkabaj L.L.C. - provides the potential investor with an excellent opportunity to acquire very good agriculture land most of it under irrigation infrastructure of Iber Lepenci irrigation company. The enterprise is comprised of approximately 298 hectares of agricultural land divided in the following Cadastral zones: :Shkabaj/Orlloviq, Prishtina, Krushefc, Fushe Kosove. The new co comprises as well machinery service unit with agriculture machinery in Shkabaj village.

NewCo Forestry Suhareka – Administrative Building L.L.C. - the NewCo is comprised of one Administration Building of approximately 251 m². The total land inclusive of the building above is approximately 3,344 m². The Subsidiary is located near the market in Suhareka.

More information at www.kta-kosovo.org

ECIKS

European standards for construction are approved

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has adopted European Directive 89/106 EEC, which deals with the control of construction products. Leaders of the MTI, experts in the construction field estimate that the introduction and implementation of the European Directive accurately will create opportunities for responsible institutions for quality control of imported construction products, for some which there are suspicions that they are of doubtful origin. This European Directive obliges all countries that aim to be members of European Union to draft laws and other standards for regulation and supervision of construction product quality.

Within the framework of this directive, Kosovo has so far approved the Law on construction products and the Law on inspection of construction products. Also, Kosovo has established the Standardization Agency, the Accreditation Unit, and the Department of Metrology. The director of the Construction Department, Naim Mahmutaj, has stated that through the adoption of this directive, Kosovo provides free circulation of its construction products in the European market.

Acda: Brezovica ski-resort to be privatised in spring
http://www.eciks.com//english/news/photos/brezovica20110701.jpg

About fcukin time, wonder who will buy it? There were rumours from several well-known companies showing interest such as those from Austria, Germany, Croatia and Israel

There was quite a big item about Kosovo on the news here today. Of cours, it was about the elections; the conclusion was the new elected government might soon declare independence, but that none of the party's really know what to do to make Kosovo an economicly healthy country to live in.

It suprised me a little, since I see a lot of construction/development going on on this forum. It gave me more or less the idea, that the economic situation was getting better.

That was not the conclusion in the news-item though. They referred ao to an empty goldmine (and other mines) in Trepcha (serb. name) and foreign investors (factories) having problems with energy fall-outs (don't know exact English term). My question here is: is it really that bad the news told me and a tricky one, but I think it's worth a honest discussion; is independence for Kosovo from an economic point of view a good option and how do the people of Kosovo think about that.

I don't think Independance to Kosovo could be good for it's economy, especially since everything seems to be connected to Serbia and lately I saw in the news that 70% of Kosovo's export goes to Serbia. What if Serbia put an embargo on them? They will have the land but how will they live?

Also, there was a special fund of developpment exclusevly for Kosovo in the Ex-Yougoslavia and every republic contributed to it still, it wasn't enough to bring Kosovo to stand on it's own because the constant growth of population destroys any attemp to get a viable economy.

I don't think Independance to Kosovo could be good for it's economy, especially since everything seems to be connected to Serbia and lately I saw in the news that 70% of Kosovo's export goes to Serbia. What if Serbia put an embargo on them? They will have the land but how will they live?

Also, there was a special fund of developpment exclusevly for Kosovo in the Ex-Yougoslavia and every republic contributed to it still, it wasn't enough to bring Kosovo to stand on it's own because the constant growth of population destroys any attemp to get a viable economy.

:lol:

Just found this exclusive, never before seen photo of Canadian on his Myspace page

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/9/9d/Joker-ritz.jpg

I don't think Independance to Kosovo could be good for it's economy, especially since everything seems to be connected to Serbia and lately I saw in the news that 70% of Kosovo's export goes to Serbia. What if Serbia put an embargo on them? They will have the land but how will they live?

Also, there was a special fund of developpment exclusevly for Kosovo in the Ex-Yougoslavia and every republic contributed to it still, it wasn't enough to bring Kosovo to stand on it's own because the constant growth of population destroys any attemp to get a viable economy.

I dont think the current status Kosova enjoys is good for its economy or being part of Serbia, we all remember how much Yugoslavia invested on Kosova's infrastructure and what happend when Serbs went amok in 90's. What goes for the "embargo", what I remember the organization "Self-Determination" (Vetevendosje) where advocating for boycotts of all Serbian products. Serbia got furious and Tadiq had to travel all the way to Brussel, who in other hand had to tell UNMIK to stop the organisations action what concerns the boycott, so... good luck! :cheers:

Aviation companies ask to increase number of flights in PIA (Kosova Sot)

Kosova Sot reported on the 121st Conference of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on planning flights for 2008, which concluded yesterday in Toronto, Canada. During the conference, the Prishtina International Airport was represented by PIA Official Driton Hyseni and spokesman Skender Bucolli.

The Prishtina Airport issued a press release reporting that many meetings were held with the representatives of more than 20 aviation companies.

“International aviation companies highly estimate the work and services offered by PIA. Hence, new airline companies are interested to operate in our airport. Current companies have also requested the increase of number of flights,” reads the press release.

As reported, international aviation companies were notified that Managing Director Afrim Aziri and management are already looking into ways on how to implement the request.

Heavy fog paralyses the airport (most dailies, KTV)

Yesterday, due to the heavy fog and limited visibility, Prishtina International Airport (PIA) has cancelled almost all of the flights. According to the PIA officials, during the day only first two landing could be done, whereas the rest were done in Macedonia, respectively in Skopje Airport. Through a press release, the PIA advised to all passengers to contact their airline companies for additional information.

Afrim Aziri, PIA managing director, told to Express that on Thursday, today, for two to three hours the visibility will be better and some of the flights can be made. Because of the fog, the airlines operating in Kosovo said that the losses are quite big, but they will know more on the exact figure after two or three days. “There was a big mess at the PIA. We had to land in other airports, in Skopje, Tirana, etc. The Government should do something regarding the function of the airport in Gjakova,” said Ilir Rama, the director of Altavia Travel.

The tube factory sold (several dailies)

The KTA has informed on Wednesday, yesterday, on the sale of the tube factory in Ferizaj. The factory was sold for €3,7 m to the offer with the code P139. The offer promised investments with €13,2 m and opening 360 working places. The buyer does not guaranty the employment of all former workers, but hopes that they will be re-hired when the factory is revitalised.

According to the KTA, the buyer invites the interested, especially the former workers, to submit their employment applications that can be found/taken at the entrance of the IMK tube factory.

Some pictures of the Energy sector:
http://lh4.google.com/Lynzey/RxI5xCy13ZI/AAAAAAAAAKk/cXDl9rksArw/9.28.07%20013.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh6.google.com/Lynzey/RxI5ziy13aI/AAAAAAAAAKs/EWFwf730Ig8/9.28.07%20014.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh5.google.com/Lynzey/RxI55Sy13cI/AAAAAAAAAK8/nYnh8eZy2_8/9.28.07%20016.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh3.google.com/Lynzey/RxI6Nyy13kI/AAAAAAAAAL8/4JxjjcIHvLg/9.28.07%20024.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh6.google.com/Lynzey/RxI5riy13XI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Sv-3U-SQKdY/9.28.07%20010.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh4.google.com/Lynzey/RxI7HCy139I/AAAAAAAAAPI/Bm9UYnhEs7c/Kosovo%20B%20cooling%20tower.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh5.google.com/Lynzey/RxJFYSy17aI/AAAAAAAAAq0/463aJzfUV2M/11-13-04%20winery%207.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh6.google.com/Lynzey/RxJFbiy17cI/AAAAAAAAArE/dhmiNuiE8nA/11-13-04%20winery%209.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh4.google.com/Lynzey/RxJFUCy17XI/AAAAAAAAAqc/iETcqx8Eppo/11-13-04%20winery%204.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh3.google.com/Lynzey/RxI4pyy126I/AAAAAAAAAGs/j4LJja3AoRE/hydro%20035.jpg?imgmax=512
http://lh6.google.com/Lynzey/RxI4siy127I/AAAAAAAAAG0/_Qn8REhTgRU/hydro%20036.jpg?imgmax=512
http://lh6.google.com/Lynzey/RxI4Jiy12uI/AAAAAAAAAFM/mjWE003vKn4/hydro%20021.jpg?imgmax=512
http://lh4.google.com/Lynzey/RxI4DCy12rI/AAAAAAAAAE0/R73AHnT_q0U/hydro%20016.jpg?imgmax=512

I dont think the current status Kosova enjoys is good for its economy or being part of Serbia, we all remember how much Yugoslavia invested on Kosova's infrastructure and what happend when Serbs went amok in 90's. What goes for the "embargo", what I remember the organization "Self-Determination" (Vetevendosje) where advocating for boycotts of all Serbian products. Serbia got furious and Tadiq had to travel all the way to Brussel, who in other hand had to tell UNMIK to stop the organisations action what concerns the boycott, so... good luck! :cheers:

It's true current status is not good for its econmy but it could be even worse if it gains Independance and Serbs block the trade with you. Just recently, Serbs were threatening of doing that and plus they had banned some ressources for export because of the hot summer (The ban was not only directed to Kosovo). The result: the prices of vital products in Kosovo went up 100% imagine what effect would a total Embargo have.

And it's funny to think a boycott from Albanians would have an effect on Serbian economy especially when 70% of your exports goes to Serbia, you can only hurt yourself.

I think the best solution for you is to stay within Serbia with full autonomy and in some years, you could even have the whole Serbia. It is projected that if Kosovo stays within Serbia, Albanians would be 56% of population in 2030 and 70% in 2040 so Serbia could be yours. While if you seperate now Serbs would block your entrance and your developpment in Serbia...

^^ no thanks... we can be neighbours - as two separate independent states.. but nothing more...

...

I think the best solution for you is to stay within Serbia with full autonomy and in some years, you could even have the whole Serbia. It is projected that if Kosovo stays within Serbia, Albanians would be 56% of population in 2030 and 70% in 2040 so Serbia could be yours. While if you seperate now Serbs would block your entrance and your developpment in Serbia...


They will be ours either way...and by 2100...Albanians will be 52% of the total world population...and we will have Canada as well. So you better start digging that nuclear shelter Canadian...becasue we'r coming for your grandkids.

Germany provides €30.5 million to Kosovo


Prishtina, 27 November 2007 - Kosovar media reports on the successful bilateral development cooperation between Germany and Kosovo. The German Government has granted €30.5 million to Kosovo for improving the energy network, stimulating small and medium enterprises and for the education sector.

“It is very important this year to improve the regional network of energy. This investment will be oriented mainly towards building 400 KV line between Albania and Kosovo. This way, we would be contributing to the improvement of the energy exchange with Albania and other regional countries,” stated Christine de Barros Said, representative of the German Government.

ECIKS

Siemens to repair Kosovo's main power plant

Prishtina, 27 November 2007 - The Kosovar Transmission, System and Market Operator (KOSTT) that deals with energy distribution has signed a €9.4 million worth contract with the Austrian company Siemens on rehabilitating substation 210/110 KV of Power Plant "Kosova A". The rehabilitation will take 24 months and will be paid by the Kosovo Budget. Siemens representatives guaranteed that the rehabilitation will be done within the foreseen deadline.

ECIKS

KTA: only Kosovo Institutions can privatize Brezovica

http://www.eciks.com//english/news/photos/sharr23110701.jpg

Prishtina, 23 November 2007 - Kosovar media report that Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) is the only institution empowered to privatise skiing-resort Brezovica. The Kosovo Government never questioned the decisions made by the KTA.

The Government of Serbia, however, claims that the KTA has no authority to privatise the Ski Centre of Bresovica. High Officials within the KTA emphasise that this non-recognition of the KTA’s mandate by Serbia to privatise the Ski Centre has no impact on the KTA’s decision to move ahead with the privatisation.

“We all know that by the Resolution 1244 it would be illegal for Belgrade to try and privatise Bezovica since the area is a part of Kosovo. Therefore, always through the SRSG/UNMIK, the legal Office in New York will be informed and also only the KTA and Kosovars will be dealing with this issue,” said Jasper Dick, Managing Director of the KTA. He stressed once again that only the KTA can privatise Brezovica and not Serbia.

ECIKS

Kosovo: in case of embargo, Serbia is the loser

Prishtina, 28 November 2007 - After threats of the Serbian Government officials to impose an economic blockade and intersect the electricity lines in case Kosovo declares independence, kosovar media quotes experts who claim that Kosovo has a plan ready and that in case these threats realize, the loser will be Serbia. These threats did not disturb the energy officials in Kosovo. The Kosovar Transmission, System and Market Operator (KOSTT) that deals with energy distribution, stressed there are plans in place in case this happens. “The plans are with Pillar IV” (UNMIK) said Fadil Ismaili, Head of KOSTT. Ismaili did not reveal any details of these plans. He said if Serbia blocks the system in Kosovo, the entire region will be affected. Kosovo uses international inter-connection lines with Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. If Serbia blocks one of these lines, Kosovo will be able to function by using three remaining lines.

The Serbian Government also plans to block the goods import to Kosovo, even those that only pass through Serbia. The Kosovo business community reacted to this threat by saying that Kosovo will not be affected and will not lose much, but Serbia will. “If the economic embargo happens, it will find Kosovo prepared for it. By doing this the Serbian products will once and for all disappear from Kosovo,” said Agim Shahini, Head of Kosovo Business Alliance (AKB).

The declaration on an economic embargo was considered insane by the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC). “It is absurd and insane. Serbia profits hundreds of millions from Kosovo. Formally, Serbia exports goods worth €170 to €200 million to Kosovo, whereas informally the amount reaches €400 million,” said Safet Gerxhaliu from KCC.

ECIKS

Embargo wouldnt be bad at all, it will also bring the Kosovar serbs closer to Prishtina than Belgrade when they realise that they were only pawns.

Kosovo: in case of embargo, Serbia is the loser

Serbia's exports to Kosovo (200€ officially) are 1% of it's total Exports while Kosovo's exports to Serbia are 70% of its total Export trade. I don't see how Serbia will lose anything there while Kosovo is risking BIG.

This article makes no sense at all and looks more like a joke or is simply a tool to convince you Independance is the best solution.

Serbia's exports to Kosovo (200€ officially) are 1% of it's total Exports while Kosovo's exports to Serbia are 70% of its total Export trade. I don't see how Serbia will lose anything there while Kosovo is risking BIG.

This article makes no sense at all and looks more like a joke or is simply a tool to convince you Independance is the best solution.

it makes sence if you read it... it won't make sense when you pretend you are a "canadian", when in reality you are a serb living in canada...

... and stop trying to give stupid opinions on whats best for Kosova... Its people knows whats best - and they are the ones who decide... insignificant opinions like yours won't be heard, so spare us ! we don't want anything to do with serbia - and there is nothing you can do about it :lol:

it makes sence if you read it... it won't make sense when you pretend you are a "canadian", when in reality you are a serb living in canada...

... and stop trying to give stupid opinions on whats best for Kosova... Its people knows whats best - and they are the ones who decide... insignificant opinions like yours won't be heard, so spare us ! we don't want anything to do with serbia - and there is nothing you can do about it :lol:

And how does that make him less of a Canadian?

Quite frankly, I don't want to have anything to do with you guys either.

it makes sence if you read it... it won't make sense when you pretend you are a "canadian", when in reality you are a serb living in canada...

... and stop trying to give stupid opinions on whats best for Kosova... Its people knows whats best - and they are the ones who decide... insignificant opinions like yours won't be heard, so spare us ! we don't want anything to do with serbia - and there is nothing you can do about it :lol:

he's right kosovars will lose more than serbs when it comes to an embargo. i doubt serbia will feel anything with an embargo, doesnt mean independence is still not worthwhile. these sacrifices were known long before.

There's nothing on the market that can't be bought elsewhere....

Kosova won't feel a thing.

I'm happy some Serbs are now starting to agree with us as well though...we don't want to be with you. We can part ways happily this way...

Canadian...how far have the digs for that nuclear bunker gone?? Remember...2100 is just around the corner...and we'r coming for you.

There's nothing on the market that can't be bought elsewhere....

Kosova won't feel a thing.

I'm happy some Serbs are now starting to agree with us as well though...we don't want to be with you. We can part ways happily this way...

Canadian...how far have the digs for that nuclear bunker gone?? Remember...2100 is just around the corner...and we'r coming for you.

Well we're lucky here, we have a tough climate so reproduction is more difficult for any species. So there's no rabbits problems here and there won't be any sorry.

we have a tough climate so reproduction is more difficult for any species

No...its probably just harder for you...

No...its probably just harder for you...

It's not the question how hard it is to make babies, people here live their lives instead of having 15 kids and have nothing to eat just to be able to conquer someone else's house.

“If the economic embargo happens, it will find Kosovo prepared for it. By doing this the Serbian products will once and for all disappear from Kosovo,” said Agim Shahini, Head of Kosovo Business Alliance (AKB).

:okay:

It's not the question how hard it is to make babies, people here live their lives instead of having 15 kids and have nothing to eat just to be able to conquer someone else's house.

What can I say...you'r an idiot.

It's not the question how hard it is to make babies, people here live their lives instead of having 15 kids and have nothing to eat just to be able to conquer someone else's house.

Is this another Serbian propaganda....I'm very disapponted in Canada how they keep people like u to live there....I feel sorry Canadianin the world is well aware who are Kosovars and who are Serbians, so no comment on that...and by the way in Pristina are many Serbian girls that comes to f. with money....see sometimes your propaganda benifit us....

Is this another Serbian propaganda....I'm very disapponted in Canada how they keep people like u to live there....I feel sorry Canadianin the world is well aware who are Kosovars and who are Serbians, so no comment on that...and by the way in Pristina are many Serbian girls that comes to f. with money....see sometimes your propaganda benifit us....

Trafficked women ;)

ECIKS brings first investment in IT


Wednesday, 05 December 2007
The Economic Initiative for Kosova, which represents Kosovo’s Agency for the Promotion of Investments in the German speaking regions, continues to bring new investors to Kosovo.

Famous Austrian software company Wertheim GmbH will invest in Kosovo in the development of a sophisticated software package for the control and management of bank safes.

The software, which will be developed during the next two years by the Kosovar company Rrota, in addition to the management of clients will allow clients access to the safes through biometric data. The value of this investment reaches 300,000 Euro. The software produced will have more than 400 installations in all the major banks in Austria and over 50 installations in Croatia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Serbia.

In 2005 ECIKS singled out information technology and agriculture as sectors with the highest potential for foreign investment. In the mean time, IPAK/ECIKS office in Vienna remains involved in the support of serious projects which will be realized in the months ahead, as well as in a large number of other projects for which investors are still required.

Today I read in Express that Kosovo is leading in Eatern Europe with use of Internet, even before the Greece that is for long time in EU.
Only IPKO net has 30 000 clients, when Kujtesa is having almost the same number. The third big provajder is DardaNet. Together with small local provijders Kosovo is considered far ahead of their neighboors countries on use of Internet. exmp are Macedonia that has registered 36 000 clients, Albania with around 30 000clients.....

Today I read in Express that Kosovo is leading in Eatern Europe with use of Internet, even before the Greece that is for long time in EU.
Only IPKO net has 30 000 clients, when Kujtesa is having almost the same number. The third big provajder is DardaNet. Together with small local provijders Kosovo is considered far ahead of their neighboors countries on use of Internet. exmp are Macedonia that has registered 36 000 clients, Albania with around 30 000clients.....

WTF? Are you serious? Ahead of its neighbours with 30.000 internet users?

WTF? Are you serious? Ahead of its neighbours with 30.000 internet users?


yeah that doesnt sound right lol....Plisat are you sure about that?

WTF? Are you serious? Ahead of its neighbours with 30.000 internet users?

it's more than double that. 30.000 users are only registered to one company. the other company has a similar number combined with local companies makes it more than 60.000.

Airport publishes plan for leasing assets (Koha Ditore)

Just a few days ago the Board of Directors of Pristina International Airport (PIA) has approved policies that enable the PIA Management to rent out their assets, facilities and select other kerosene supplying companies.

The Airport Management has decided to first rent out cafeterias and restaurants located at the terminal and give an opportunity to other kerosene suppliers. “This will be done to have competitors for services and a variety and higher quality of services at the airport,” said Skender Bucolli, PIA Spokesperson. He added that by doing this, the PIA will collect revenues from the rent and in the meantime will not have to deal with the administration and the sale of these cafeterias and restaurants. “The PIA can concentrate its human resources on aviation functions and reduce administrative expenses,” said Bucolli.

Related to the matter of the kerosene supplier, Bucolli said the place which is now used will be moved to another, safer place and far from the departure terminal. The kerosene storages will be built by the supplier and the airport will have no expenses and will be able to use the space for its own purposes in accordance with the PIA master plan.

Airport suffered financial losses during last days (TV21)

Pristina International Airport (PIA) has suffered financial losses during the last days when the dense fog blocked its functioning. PIA officials said obligations towards the passengers have lead to financial losses. “Both, the Airport and the aviation companies, suffered financial damages” said Skender Bucollli, PIA Spokesperson.

After several days of failure of flights, yesterday all scheduled flights landed in Pristina Airport. According to Bucolli, if the foggy weather continues it will cause landing problems and the alternative airport remains to be Skopje Airport.
The PIA tried to dissolute the fog with dioxide carbon but was not successful.

Today I read in Express that Kosovo is leading in Eatern Europe with use of Internet, even before the Greece that is for long time in EU.
Only IPKO net has 30 000 clients, when Kujtesa is having almost the same number. The third big provajder is DardaNet. Together with small local provijders Kosovo is considered far ahead of their neighboors countries on use of Internet. exmp are Macedonia that has registered 36 000 clients, Albania with around 30 000clients.....

According to CIA World FactBook, as of 2006 Albania had 471,200 internet users.

According to CIA World FactBook, as of 2006 Albania had 471,200 internet users.


Sorry to say my friend but I dont belive that Albania has such a big number of users. How many families has Albania. I traveled all over the Balkans and I know who use internet mostly and I know that Kosova is one of the leading countries on use of internet. Albania sorry to say is far far from Kosova on this issue. Even your PM said once that. By the way I will put article on the web but I have to do some search, check the web. www.gazetaexpress.com...there are to many numbers so I see which one.

If u didnt read carefully what I have wrote on priviost post that only IPKO in Kosovo has 30 000 thousend, you have big provajders in Kosovo like Kujtesa, Dardanet and becouse is big number of small provajders they cannot know the right number of peopele that use internet. But I will tell u that almost everyone use it now.......

In Kosovo u can get 2mbps speed internet with 55 channel cable tv, ip telephony and game server with 9.99 euros. see main provajders www.ipko.net www.kujtesa.com www.telekomi.net/tk/al/ .....and more

I think Kosovo has more internet users than Albania. Internet in Kosovo started taking off in early 2000 with some internet caffes opening and by 2002 there were internet caffes everywhere. Now pretty much everyone has internet in their homes as well because of some cheap plans that Kujtesa and Ipkonet have. 10-15 euros/month. I know this because 80 % households that i know have internet access in their homes.

I think Kosovo has more internet users than Albania. Internet in Kosovo started taking off in early 2000 with some internet caffes opening and by 2002 there were internet caffes everywhere. Now pretty much everyone has internet in their homes as well because of some cheap plans that Kujtesa and Ipkonet have. 10-15 euros/month. I know this because 80 % households that i know have internet access in their homes.

What is the current average fee for internet connection/month in Kosovo and Albania?

Greeks interested in investing in Kosovo (Express)

Cooperation between the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, the Greek Office in Pristina and the Association of Northern Greek Exporters has resulted in a visit of 22 Greek enterprises to Pristina, reported Express.

The Greek businessmen have come with the purpose to create trade and business relations with the Kosovo businessmen and evaluate the possibility of investing in Kosovo. According to them, Kosovo is a good place for investment, especially in the industry for food processing, metallurgy, sector of wood and construction.

“All we want is to become closer, to cooperate and create a new reality to help our people,” stated Head of Greek Office, Nicholas Cannelos. Greek Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Nicholas Tahios is quoted as saying that the people of the region should become closer and create a common future.

“It must be pointed out that the moment chosen for the visit is quite encouraging for us as we are about to solve Kosovo’s final status. The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakojanis has also requested a meeting at this time,” stated Besim Beqaj, Head of Kosovo Chamber of Commerce. Minister of Trade and Industry, Bujar Dugolli is quoted as saying that the presence of the Greek business community in Kosovo is a clear signal for the good business cooperation between both places, reported Express.

The export of wood products increases (several dailies)

Dailies report that in 2007 the Kosovo wood processors have increased the export of wood products up to €3m. According to them, they export in many regional and European countries, and even further. Hashim Deshishku, the head of the Wood Processors’ Association, said that the wood industry in Kosovo has successfully developed and it can be proven with the export. “The export in 2006 reached some €1m, whereas in 2007 it goes up to €3m,” said Deshishku.

Besim Beqaj, Head of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, said the economy of Kosovo increased for three percent. He added that by entering into CEFTA, Kosovo became more competitive in the wood industry and this way increases the export rate.

Vala to be privatized (Zeri)

The daily reports on the article carried by the Austrian newspaper “WirtschaftsBlatt” regarding the privatisation of Vala. According to this newspaper, Etrur Rrustemaj, the PTK Managing Director said the deadline for the announcement of the consultant dealing with the privatisation preparations has expired last week. According to him, the decision regarding the matter will be made within the next two weeks. Rrustemaj hopes that the Government and UNMIK will fasten the privatisation of Vala. The reason is the second mobile phone operator, the Slovenian Telekom. The second mobile phone operator is just starting, and the stronger the Slovenian partner gets the lesser will be paid for Vala. The most interested companies in buying Vala are the Austrian Telecom and the German T-Mobile.

Rrustemaj considers that the price for Vala is from €0,8 billion to €1,2 billion. Based on certain data, by October 2007 Vala could have raised the number of costumers up to 810,000 but without further investments the capacity of the network is fully used.

According to experts, Vala is one of the most attractive assets of Kosovo (excluding the mining sector). According to data, Vala has no debts and possesses the GSM license in Kosovo, which is valued by the international telecommunication.

If u didnt read carefully what I have wrote on priviost post that only IPKO in Kosovo has 30 000 thousend, you have big provajders in Kosovo like Kujtesa, Dardanet and becouse is big number of small provajders they cannot know the right number of peopele that use internet. But I will tell u that almost everyone use it now.......

In Kosovo u can get 2mbps speed internet with 55 channel cable tv, ip telephony and game server with 9.99 euros. see main provajders www.ipko.net www.kujtesa.com www.telekomi.net/tk/al/ .....and more

That's very promissing

Ipko Package's:
PACKAGE 1 - 2 Mbps / 2GB TRANSFER / 9.95 EUR
You have chosen the basic service, but with a high speed. You prefer internet for daily communication (e-mail, MSN, etc.), web surfing, music and video download. This package offers you limited transfer; however 2GB is enough for these needs.

PACKAGE 3 - 512 Kbps / UNLIMITED TRANSFER / 14.95 EUR
You have chosen an internet connection with a solid speed, without transfer limitation. This package is ideal for regular internet users, who do not want to worry about the transfer usage. This package is exactly what you need.

PACKAGE 4 - 2 Mbps / UNLIMITED TRANSFER / 24.95 EUR
You have chosen not to worry about the speed, transfer limit or internet cables. With this package you can also use the wireless network, free of charge, and provide connection for another PC. Congrats, you have just become part of our team!

Kujtesa:

Internet speed ranging from 256Kbps to 6Mbps

-Free-of-charge minutes for international calls

-Unlimited transfer




Kujtesa offers a variety of services to fulfill you needs

Broadbandzone Cable Internet brings to you different packages with a speed ranging from 256Kbps to 6Mbps and 24/7 online
Price from 9.9 to 34.9 euros

just some examp....

what does a 2gb transfer mean?

and those plans are really cheap and good

It means that for one week u can make 2GB transfer-download. It is ristricted becouse of speed that u get....if u want unlimitet transfer is 14.95 E but speed is lower but still good......per month i think is 10GB, so it is ok.....

I haven't include in privious post....with all these packages u get Cable TV (55 channels), IP Telephony, Movie and Game server-all for free....

Dragash will have wind mills (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports on a donors’ conference that took place in Dragash on possibilities of alternative generation of electricity in Dragash municipality. After the conference “Bondcom Corporation”, a company from England, expressed its interest to invest in wind mills in Dragash municipality. The Company has sent a request to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, along with the Municipality’s management approval. Officials of the Municipality said they not only appreciate the significance of the project, but would also help the company by providing the necessary infrastructure. The project will enable the generation of 100 MW/h and 50 people would be hired. The estimated profit would be € 3,000/per year from each wind mill as well as 1.5% of the generated electricity.

What's the situation in Shtërpcë?
Any investments in the ski resort there or nothing?

Serbia's exports to Kosovo (200€ officially) are 1% of it's total Exports while Kosovo's exports to Serbia are 70% of its total Export trade. I don't see how Serbia will lose anything there while Kosovo is risking BIG.

This article makes no sense at all and looks more like a joke or is simply a tool to convince you Independance is the best solution.
Well, i.e. Kosovo's 70% exports are for example electricity and grain and Serbia imposes embargo, guess where electricity and bread will be more expensive!
Kosovo can redirect the exports to Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Let's not forget that on an embargo, both sides loose. If only one side was wining, then it's called robbery, not trade. If Serbia wont trade with Kosovo, both sides loose.

Well, i.e. Kosovo's 70% exports are for example electricity and grain and Serbia imposes embargo, guess where electricity and bread will be more expensive!
Kosovo can redirect the exports to Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Let's not forget that on an embargo, both sides loose. If only one side was wining, then it's called robbery, not trade. If Serbia wont trade with Kosovo, both sides loose.

A high ranking official in the Serbian ministry said Serbia would never allow that to happend, we are talking about 400 MILLION EURO not dollar...

Well, i.e. Kosovo's 70% exports are for example electricity and grain and Serbia imposes embargo, guess where electricity and bread will be more expensive!
Kosovo can redirect the exports to Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Let's not forget that on an embargo, both sides loose. If only one side was wining, then it's called robbery, not trade. If Serbia wont trade with Kosovo, both sides loose.

You have to check numbers man 70% of Kosovo's exports are not significant enough to Serbian economy to have any impact (Less than 1%). But I agree both sides would lose the question is which one will suffer most. To avoid this situation it is best to find a deal from both sides and restreint from stupid moves(unilateral).

A high ranking official in the Serbian ministry said Serbia would never allow that to happend, we are talking about 400 MILLION EURO not dollar...

I have just read they are planning to put an embargo if there's unilateral move. Can you give me a link to where you found that?

There is plans, and preparations in case that happens to be able to sustain such embargo for a specific period of time, until businneses find trade partners in other countries. Personally i think that should happen now, but some businessman dont take the threats seriously and will continue to import/export until such a threat is carried out.

Both parties lose. Once our businesses get comfortable with their new trade partners, it will be hard to draw them back after you disrupt their way of doing business.

I think it's only 10% of Kosoves imports that come from Serbia and Kosove generates about 70-80% of it's own electricity. An embargo by Serbia would only make the serb government look like Russia when they cut off their gas supplies last year, but without the muscle.

Well you can make your own numbers and hypothesis to please yourself but the facts are Kosovo's economy is almost non existent now and with an embargo by your biggest trade partner I better not imagine how it would look like for you. If your buisnessman aren't changing now, it's maybe because the cost of change is not worth it don't you think? They're there to make money not to prove that an Independent Kosovo is the right thing.

An embargo would only be a legal act to an illegal one(unilateral proclamation) and your government would look like fools not Serbian.

^^^^^^
says the troll:nuts:

Well you can make your own numbers and hypothesis to please yourself but the facts are Kosovo's economy is almost non existent now and with an embargo by your biggest trade partner I better not imagine how it would look like for you. If your buisnessman aren't changing now, it's maybe because the cost of change is not worth it don't you think? They're there to make money not to prove that an Independent Kosovo is the right thing.

An embargo would only be a legal act to an illegal one(unilateral proclamation) and your government would look like fools not Serbian.

i hope that embargo will become a reality.. that way serbian govt. would do us a favour and do something we should have done along time ago ourselves - boycott serbian economy TOTALLY.. with this embargo this will become a reality, without making us look bad internationally, like agressors.. serbia can be the aggressors and the revengers, while we just play along :lol::lol:

buhuu... who cares if we cant buy sodas and cheap chips from you.. there are plenty of countries from around the world to import.. as for electricity, serbia will soon beg us to sell some to them ;)

Now get lost! We know what we are doing, and we play this political game much better than you :lol:

And what do you think seriously it's better to play a cat and mouse game forever or make a compromise and look forward? For that both sides have to give something but obviously as I see from your rude reactions, there can not be any compromise because you want it all no matter what's the price. But with that attitude there could never ever be any peace, it's just a natural thing.

Anyway, the ball is in your camp...

And what do you think seriously it's better to play a cat and mouse game forever or make a compromise and look forward?

we are the ones looking forward.. while you are the ones looking back.. compromise would be possible if it wasnt a manipulative political term you misuse to impose autonomy on 2 million albanians against their will.. and you call this a compromise ? :lol::lol: Independence is the only solution, and it will happen, period - non negotiable ;)

For that both sides have to give something but obviously as I see from your rude reactions, there can not be any compromise because you want it all no matter what's the price.

It is already all ours... and yes no matter price, because we don't have anything to loose.. its a matter of existence, not like you trying to have a colony to take advantage of..

But with that attitude there could never ever be any peace, it's just a natural thing.

This is the only solution actually creating peace.. If you weren't a serb you would understand, but Im not going to waste my time on you anymore.. Hope this is the last time you write your stupid and insignificant "opinions" in this thread.. like anybody really cares what you mean :nuts: ...

Partition could also be a compromise and no Kosovo is not all yours, it's still part of Serbia. It's funny everytime somebody is discussing with you guys end up being insulted but it just shows me alot about your mentality and I know better now why there is a problem in Kosovo today. :poke:

Partition could also be a compromise and no Kosovo is not all yours, it's still part of Serbia. It's funny everytime somebody is discussing with you guys end up being insulted but it just shows me alot about your mentality and I know better now why there is a problem in Kosovo today. :poke:

so your not the innocent Canadian anymore who knows nothing about Kosovo or where it is located and what not? lol

You finally came true with your true colors.:nuts:

so your not the innocent Canadian anymore who knows nothing about Kosovo or where it is located and what not? lol

You finally came true with your true colors.:nuts:

I learned alot from past months and you all showed me your true colours too. Anyway I would still like if there is a deal found and like that the whole region would boom economically. If there is no deal well everything could happen at any time. Even if you get the Independance, there will always be a risk of new conflict and that send bad signals to investors.

I learned alot from past months and you all showed me your true colours too. Anyway I would still like if there is a deal found and like that the whole region would boom economically. If there is no deal well everything could happen at any time. Even if you get the Independance, there will always be a risk of new conflict and that send bad signals to investors.

yeah but the world is not perfect and there is other ways of moving forward other than the "deal" you speak of.

I have just read they are planning to put an embargo if there's unilateral move. Can you give me a link to where you found that?

I couldnt find any link since I read from Albanian newspaper, but...

Tadic denounces boycott of Serbian products in Kosovo
29/05/2006

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro -- Serbian President Boris Tadic sent a letter of protest Sunday (28 May) regarding the boycott under way against Serbian products in Kosovo. Tadic urged UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen to intervene in ending what he described as the "undemocratic and anti-European act". Last week, a youth movement in Pristina called on Albanians to stop buying food items and other products made in Serbia

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/newsbriefs/2006/05/29/nb-04


Kinda old, but the same president.. have Tadiq ever said anything about embargo btw, its he who still runs the country right? :yes:

I couldnt find any link since I read from Albanian newspaper, but...



Kinda old, but the same president.. have Tadiq ever said anything about embargo btw, its he who still runs the country right? :yes:

I think in Serbia it's the prime minister who runs the cuntry and that quote is about a boycott of Serbian products in Kosovo and it's normal he would react for some reasons and I don't think it's for the economical ones. It's also his job to do so and it doesn't tell me anything about what you said about the embargo. Also anything coming from Serbian or Albanian papers you have to take that with a grain of salt especially when they're talking about "others". The only site I find good and objective is B92.net and lot of Albanians are posting there.

I learned alot from past months and you all showed me your true colours too. Anyway I would still like if there is a deal found and like that the whole region would boom economically. If there is no deal well everything could happen at any time. Even if you get the Independance, there will always be a risk of new conflict and that send bad signals to investors.

BS. If you didn't even know where Kosovo was just recently, you're the least qualified person to talk about this. Unfortunately for you, ignorance cannot be cured in a month. But thanks for making a fool of yourself.

Partition could also be a compromise

I guess the same would apply for the other Albanian populated areas in southern Serbia, right?

yeah but the world is not perfect and there is other ways of moving forward other than the "deal" you speak of.

Sorry but anything beside a deal would bring conflicts a time or another.

I think in Serbia it's the prime minister who runs the cuntry and that quote is about a boycott of Serbian products in Kosovo and it's normal he would react for some reasons and I don't think it's for the economical ones. It's also his job to do so and it doesn't tell me anything about what you said about the embargo. Also anything coming from Serbian or Albanian papers you have to take that with a grain of salt especially when they're talking about "others". The only site I find good and objective is B92.net and lot of Albanians are posting there.

I really dont care, I actually hope they put the embargo.. as a fellow citizen of Kosova said.. for once the Serbian products will once and for all disappear from Kosova.

I see that this topic is becoming political....so I think will be more smarter to discuss more about what will be better for future........
Canadanin until Serbians keep such a high level of nacionalism, Kosovo same Bosna will have problems but small nature. When Serbia will destroy themselves.....
Will be no war, will be no embargo becouse they lost two wars with NATO that are threating....and NATO is now in Kosova...so dont worry they are only words to scear International community.....but they know that Kosova will be indinpendent and thats why they are supporting such a idea.....exepct Russia that no one in Kosova cares if they will recognize or not.
Serbia should think more about themselves and leave nationalist ideas and same time leave Russia and start thinking about the future......
There is nothing that connects Kosova and Serbia....7% of serbs in Kosova....u have more than 100 000 Albanians living in South of Serbia....should we request to take that part from Serbia...leave that. Kosova is going to be indipendent soon and there is no other solution....everyone knows. It is just simple that Serbians did many crimes in Kosova and Kosova people dosent conect nothing with Serbia....so we go together hope in future inside EU.....but as nighbours and independet states.

Kosovo's new power plant

Prishtina, 12 December 2007 - According to Kosovar media, the announcement of the winner for the tender of "Kosovo C" project has been postponed. This was decided on the 24th meeting of the Project Steering Committee held yesterday. The legal, transaction and environmental consultants have presented their reports. “The legal consultants report the need for amendments, whereas the environmental consultants submitted a first draft of the strategic environmental and social evaluation,” said Lorik Haxhiu, project coordinator. According to him, the final report is expected to be ready sometime at beginning of next month. “We hope that next year we will select the winner. When all the needed analyses are done, we will submit the tender documentation to the companies,” said Haxhiu.

David Loyd, chairman of the transaction consultants’ group said they have completed the work and made their recommendations. “The project is integrated; a plan will be requested from investors on how they are going to develop the mines,’ he said.

The tender on "Kosovo C", issued by the Kosovar Government, foresees the building of the new coal power plant in Kosovo and requires investments of over 3 billion Euros. Some of the world's leading companies in the energy sector are competing in the tender.

Kosovo increases the export of wood products

Prishtina, 10 December 2007 - The Kosovo wood processors have increased their exports to 3 million Euros during 2007. According to them, they export in many regional and European countries, and even further. Hashim Deshishku, the head of the Wood Processors’ Association, said that the wood industry in Kosovo has successfully developed and it can be proven with the export. “The export in 2006 reached some €1 million, whereas in 2007 it reached €3 million,” said Deshishku.

Besim Beqaj, Head of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, said the economy of Kosovo increased for three percent. He added that by entering into CEFTA, Kosovo became more competitive in the wood industry and increased its export rate.

Today I read in Express that Kosovo is leading in Eatern Europe with use of Internet, even before the Greece that is for long time in EU.
Only IPKO net has 30 000 clients, when Kujtesa is having almost the same number. The third big provajder is DardaNet. Together with small local provijders Kosovo is considered far ahead of their neighboors countries on use of Internet. exmp are Macedonia that has registered 36 000 clients, Albania with around 30 000clients.....

Only MtNet has 44.000 clients (that's only broadband internet we're speaking not dial up that's extra). There are at least 3-4 operators with a similar size... Not to mention the countless smaller operators. these numbers are severely flawed.

I think the article stated that Kosovo is leading in EE in terms of internet users, not internet clients. Besides the relatively high number of people who have access to internet in their homes, there is also a huge number of internet cafe's, especially in Prishtina, and most of them have many clients.

I think the article stated that Kosovo is leading in EE in terms of internet users, not internet clients. Besides the relatively high number of people who have access to internet in their homes, there is also a huge number of internet cafe's, especially in Prishtina, and most of them have many clients.

I'm not speculating with the number of users/clients in Kosovo I'm just saying that the number for Macedonia is very underestimated/flawed :) (36.000 total in opposing to the realistic 44.000 only from just one operator).

Anyways from my knowledge the internet in Kosovo wasn't really accessible or of high quality until recently. Then I checked the site of some telco that liburni posted a while ago and I was surprised to see things have changed a lot for the good (some very affordable packages with good properties for Balkan standards, definitely worth the money). Having said that I'm sure internet penetration has been growing in Kosovo lately by fast pace. Similar thing happened in Macedonia, competition has been killing the prices this year and for the first time in my life I'm content with what's being offered on the market (although I know it could be much better). The numbers of new subscribers is skyrocketing.

The numbers given for Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia aren't really representative. To say in Kosovo it is higher becasue there are a lot of internet cafes in Prishtina, isn't saying much. There are plenty of internet cafes in Albania too, and I'm sure in Macedonia too. So unless someone has exact figures, I can't really say which one has "more" than the other. Registered internet users or not.

According to the CIA world factbook there are 852 internet hosts and 471,200 users in Albania. For Macedonia it says 6,001 hosts and 268,000 users. I don't know how realistic or accurate these figures are, but the number of users is different from the number of registered users. Wikipedia says 10 internet providers in Albania and 20 providers in Macedonia (and 380,000 users according to Macedonian sate statistics). Bosnia for example has even more, with 30 ISps and 950,000 users.

So to say kosov leads in the Balkans, is an exageration maybe.

According to internetworldstats.com (not sure how reliable it is, just something I found online), Albania ranks 6th in the world for growth of internet users, after Russia, Belaruse, Faroe Islands, Moldova and Croatia.

As for Kosovo, the information provided here seems a bit distorted. According to somethig I found onlue from POLIS, the London School of Economics, for 2003 data it said that 15.9% of the population had regualr acess to a computer (though this does NOT mean internet), but only 3% had a computer at home (from http://www.indexkosova.com) . So to say that "almost everyone I know has a computer at home" may be true, but that is still "everyone you know", which probably is a more wealthy group than is representative of society. "Almost everyone I know" in Albania also has either a computer at home or regular access to one, but certainly that isn't representative of the whole population, as I know very well the ones I know are "better off" economically than most.

As you can see from this data:
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats4.htm

Albania has 15.3% of population using internet with a growth rate between 2000-2007 of 18,748 %. Macedonia has 19.1% of population with 1,208.9 % growth.

Broadband connection seems to be where Albania is lacking the most, and where Kosovo might have an advantage (and everyone else in the Balkans). I don't know what the state of broadband is in Albania, if there are new companies offering it now (I thought Digit-Alb provided broadband?? I have no clue at all...). Certainly in the near future such services will be available more readily.

Kosovo may be better than Albania now slighlty in terms of PERCENTAGE of population, certainly not total users, and certainly not a leader in the Balkans (where Greece for example has 33.5% of population, Bulgaria has 28.7%, Romania has 23.4%). We all do beat Serbia though at 13.9%...if that is concolation to anybody :)

So good for Kosovo to be doing so well, but lets not EXAGERATE.

Interesting to note that in Albania it jumped from 2.4% in 2006 to 15.3% in 2007. So somethign must have changed this year, and I'd assume similar growth for the future.

The most important thing is that penetration growth is high, dial up is getting extinct on account of broadband and prices are falling down quick all over the Balkans. Nothing else really matters...

We all do beat Serbia though at 13.9%...if that is concolation to anybody :)

Sorry to dissapoint you, but percentage of the population in Serbia with internet access in 2007 is 35.8% according to gfk (http://www.gfk.co.yu/ser/press/2007_018.php)

That depends on what criteria they used. I got that info from the same source as all the rest.

Ok, let's compare sources then.

GFK
The GfK AG is Germany's largest market research institute, located in Nuremberg, and the fifth largest such organisation in the world, after VNU, Taylor Nelson Sofres, IMS Health and the Kantar Group. It was founded in 1934 by an association of university teachers, among them Ludwig Erhard, later minister of economics and chancellor of Germany. The institute is probably best known for its measurement of German TV audience ratings, which it has carried out since 1991, but it has long since expanded into other countries and into all fields of marketing research.
Internet World Stats
:?:?:?

^^

it's different methodologies I think. Internet world stats presents connections/capita to calculate the penetration, while the GfK study presents the the % with access to net (be it at home, work, university etc)... both methodologies make sense but give out different conclusions.

EDIT: my bad... I just checked internet world stats and what I said above doesn't make sense.

stupid discussion.. who cares who's got more internet users? what matters is that the broadband/internett market in entire Ballkans is skyrocketing, in general :cheers:

The methodologies differ in what you consider "access to internet"...meaning...the frequency of use.

Kosovo Faces Golden Future


Prishtinë, 15 December 2007 – A new geophysical survey says Kosovo has bigger deposits of gold and other metals than previously thought.

News of the fresh discovery came in a report, entitled, “Kosovo: A Place of Gold”, issued by Kosovo’s Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals, ICMM, on Friday.

“Especially gold, nickel and chrome deposits under Kosovo’s surface seem to be larger than known so far. But also aluminium, copper, iron metals and lead-zinc deposits are spread over Kosovo’s territory and represent a huge potential for investment”, the statement said.

The deputy director of the ICMM, Naser Peci, said at a news conference that “the survey has enabled us to establish where these metals and minerals are, but it has not determined the exact size of these deposits.”

Experts believe greater investment will come once the uncertainty over UN-administered Kosovo’s status has been resolved.

“Kosovo has hundreds of prospective areas. Several foreign companies are already exploring for minerals, and there are liable to be many more companies coming after status has been resolved”, said Nick Burcham, technical programmes consultant for the ICMM.

It was not clear from reports where in Kosovo the fresh deposits are located.

The survey, launched in September 2006, was conducted by a low-flying plane, which covered most of Kosovo’s territory, apart from the Ground Safety Zone at the boundary with Serbia because the Belgrade authorities did not give permission for overflights.

After eight years under UN administration, Kosovo is expected to declare its independence from Serbia in the coming months.

Kosovo Faces Golden Future


Prishtinë, 15 December 2007 – A new geophysical survey says Kosovo has bigger deposits of gold and other metals than previously thought.

News of the fresh discovery came in a report, entitled, “Kosovo: A Place of Gold”, issued by Kosovo’s Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals, ICMM, on Friday.

“Especially gold, nickel and chrome deposits under Kosovo’s surface seem to be larger than known so far. But also aluminium, copper, iron metals and lead-zinc deposits are spread over Kosovo’s territory and represent a huge potential for investment”, the statement said.

The deputy director of the ICMM, Naser Peci, said at a news conference that “the survey has enabled us to establish where these metals and minerals are, but it has not determined the exact size of these deposits.”

Experts believe greater investment will come once the uncertainty over UN-administered Kosovo’s status has been resolved.

“Kosovo has hundreds of prospective areas. Several foreign companies are already exploring for minerals, and there are liable to be many more companies coming after status has been resolved”, said Nick Burcham, technical programmes consultant for the ICMM.

It was not clear from reports where in Kosovo the fresh deposits are located.

The survey, launched in September 2006, was conducted by a low-flying plane, which covered most of Kosovo’s territory, apart from the Ground Safety Zone at the boundary with Serbia because the Belgrade authorities did not give permission for overflights.

After eight years under UN administration, Kosovo is expected to declare its independence from Serbia in the coming months.

Do you know the names of the companies which explore for gold in Kosovo? thanks :cheers:

For the moment we used to have "Trepca" mine that used to be the biggest in Europe and one of the biggest in the world, during 1980.
today are many foreign compaines that came to do investments, but nothing was still aproved by Government. First was finished this geoligical survey and than to open tenders.
I know only one company I forgot the name, it is British company bought the nikel mine in Drenas.They have alrady started working....

Kosovo's Trepca has reserves worth 13 billion euros



Prishtina, 19 December 2007 - Kosovo's mining complex Trepca has at least €3 billion mineral reserves more than what the estimates of the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MEM) show, reported kosovar daily Koha Ditore. These data were made public by experts of the Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals (ICMM), who referred to a feasibility study for Trepca. “The study demonstrates that Trepca has reserves worth €13 billion. But we believe they are even higher,” the member of ICMM Board, Ibush Jonuzi, was quoted as saying.

The feasibility study on Trepca has been conducted by local and international experts in June 2006. It has never been fully published because it contains data on Trepca’s internal financial matters. The paper reports that the data on Trepca’s mineral reserves, presented by MEM, some time ago, were lower, namely €10 billion.

The paper also reports on the airborne geophysical survey conducted recently by ICMM. The survey showed that Kosovo has an unexpected potential of metals and minerals. Especially gold, nickel and chrome deposits under Kosovo’s surface seem to be larger than known so far.

ECIKS / Koha Ditore

http://www.eciks.org//english/lajme.php?action=total_news&main_id=758

Freedom for Kosovo.

First was finished this geoligical survey and than to open tenders.


One of my old natural resource economics professors did a lot of work for UNMIK in Kosovo assesing the worth of the coal mines. He says there's a lot of money to be made there...

Report: Kosovo Needs Ties With Diaspora

26 December 2007 Pristina _ Kosovo needs to build stronger ties with its Diaspora abroad if it is to attract more financial investment, a group of nongovernmental organisations has concluded.

The report called 'Diaspora and Migration Policies' conducted by 'Forum 2015', a group of prominent Kosovar nongovernmental organisations, says local authorities must do more to encourage investment from abroad.

'The concern of each investor here is no different from any other investor coming from our Diaspora', Muhamet Mustafa, a member of the Forum told Balkan Insight on Wednesday.

Seventeen percent of the Kosovo’s overall population currently lives abroad and they should be encouraged to invest more of the money they earn back home, the report says.

Mustafa stressed the need for a sustainable policy on migration and better control over it.

'Investment funds should be formed in a sustainable way', said Mustafa at the forum. He added that 'there is a need for reliable sources of Kosovar businesses abroad.'

The report presented at the forum suggests that the majority of Kosovar Albanians abroad, around 39 percent are living and working in Germany. Many of them have set up businesses there through which they could potentially invest back in Kosovo.

Another member of the Forum, Luan Shllaku suggested that 'prior to setting recommendations for more investment, a reliable database of Kosovar businesses abroad is essential.'

Analysts say that in recent years the Diaspora have sent around € 170 million annually back to Kosovo though they could be encouraged to contribute more.

The Forum's report suggests that the local institutions should introduce effective policies to entice more members of the Diaspora to invest in Kosovo, a move that would boost its stagnant economy.

Kosovo: privatisation process successful

Prishtina, 2 January 2008 - According to the director of privatisation of the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), which is charge of privatisation process in Kosovo, Kirk Adams, the process of privatisation in Kosovo is very successful.

He further added that the EU and USAID brought international experts that have experience in privatisation. “I think that Kosovo gained a lot from these people,” he said.

When Kosovo’s status changes, there will be changes in legislation. The kosovarisation of KTA will be done. “The privatisation department will be led by locals and in my place will come a Kosovar. But there will be international advisors that will help locals,” said Adams.

Adams further said that the privatisation of SOEs in Kosovo has revived the economy of Kosovo. As success stories he mentioned the privatisation of nickel producing plant “Ferronikeli”, “Llamkos” and the Tobacco Factory.

Kosovo: the sale of VALA is a priority

Prishtina, 2 January 2008 - In an interview for the Kosovar media, the chief of UNMIK Pillar IV, Paul Acda, said that the privatisation of Kosovar mobile telephony operator VALA will be the priority for 2008.

Acda also hopes that the ski-resort Brezovica in the south of Kosovo will be tendered for privatisation in spring 2008. “I say that the privatisation is necessary, but it needs to be the right company,” he said.

Regarding the issue of mining complex Trepca, according to Acda, restructuring is a long process since one of the issues that needs to be solved are the creditor claims. ”When the creditor claims are reviewed, approved or rejected, then we will see which part of Trepca can be privatised in order for the enterprise to profit most,” he said.

The fate of the Publicly Owned Enterprises will only be decided after the Kosovo status. “For now the airport cannot be privatised, or given in concession,” said Acda.

The head of Pillar IV also stressed the successes of UNMIK Customs Service (UCS). According to him, UCS has achieved its objectives, and even more, they have exceeded their revenues targets in 2007.

Kosovo – a land of gold


http://www.eciks.com/english/news/photos/FeNi03010803.jpg


Prishtinë, January 4, 2008 - The Kosovo Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals (ICMM) presented in December the first results of the airborne geophysical survey of Kosovo that was recently concluded. Dr. Naser Peci, Deputy Director of ICMM, stressed at a press briefing held on this occasion that the survey made obvious that Kosovo has an unexpected degree of prospectivity in the area of metals and minerals.

Especially gold, nickel and chrome deposits under Kosovo’s surface seem to be larger than known so far. But also aluminium, copper, iron metals and lead-zinc deposits are spread over Kosovo’s territory and represent a huge potential for investment. “Kosovo has hundreds of prospective areas, several foreign companies are already exploring for minerals and there are liable to be many more companies coming after status”, said Nick Burcham, technical programmes consultant for ICMM.

The survey was initiated in September 2006. A specially designed low-flying aircraft collected geophysical data across Kosovo including magnetic fields, electromagnetics and gamma-ray radiometrics. The survey was conducted by the Joint Airborne Geoscience Capability, which is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Finland and the British Geological Survey. A total of 45,429 km was flown on east-west flight lines over the territory of Kosovo. Only the Ground Safety Zone with Serbia and Montenegro had to be spared as the Serbian authorities didn’t give permission for Administrative Boundary Line overflights. Costs of around €1.2m were covered by the Kosovo Consolidated Budget (KCB) through ICMM, a KCB funded institution.

Measuring geophysical parameters now enables geophysicists to examine beneath the earth’s surface and ultimately benefit Kosovo’s economy, environment, agriculture and land management. It augments and expands ICMM’s geological knowledge, helping to map the location of many essential minerals such as limestone, sand, gravel and industrial minerals. The exact amount of the raw material will have to be determined through an exploration operation. Usually mining companies purchase such geophysical data, analyse it and then decide to apply for exploration licences.

The Governing Board of the ICMM will soon decide on when and how to make the data available for investors and the public. The ICMM experts suggested that it will probably be in spring 2008.

Kosovo has been administered by the UN since NATO bombing in 1999 pushed out Serbian forces to end the ethnic cleansing and mass killing of ethnic Albanians.

ECIKS (adapted from Euinkosovo.org)

Kosovo: PIA over 1,1 million passengers in 2007



Prishtina, 4 January 2007 - Prishtina International Airport (PIA) reported a record number of passengers for 2007. Over 1,1 million passengers have traveled through PIA during 2007, 12% more than in 2006.

During 2007, PIA was licensed to operate as International Airport, while complete management and air space control were transfered from international authorities to Kosovars.

ECIKS

EU in Kosovo

Prishtina, 8 January 2008 - The future EU mission in Kosovo will not only focus on justice and police system, but it will also donate about two billion Euros to be used for the priorities of the Kosovar Government, said government sources in Prishtina.

According to those sources, some 1.5 billion EUR will be used for energy, education and economy.

Kosovo: €520 million from Customs

Prishtina, UNMIK/Kosovo Customs Service has collected over €520 million for the Kosovo Budget during the past year, which is €80 million more than the same period of the previous year.

“During 2007, Customs has successfully prevented the smuggling of different products. We have also decreased the fiscal evasion from the Northern part of Kosovo,” said Adriatik Stavileci, Customs Spokesperson.

He added that most of the incomes come from import of gas, oil, cigarettes and alcohol. According to the Customs data, for the period January-November 2007, Kosovo imported 326 million litres of oil and its products.

Kosovo Supreme Court decides on the privatization of land

Prishtina, 7 January 2008 - The Kosovo Supreme Court has decided on the property dispute between Kosovo Privatization Agency and the Municipality od Dragash about the privatization of 22.000 hectares of land.

The dispute between the municipality of Dragash, the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) and the “Socially Owned Enterprise” (SOE) Sharrprodhimi had been ongoing for over two years. It was finally solved with the court decision to privatize the 22.000 hectares of Sharrprodhimi land, located in the south-western region of Kosovo.

The land offers excellent opportunities in tourism.

Kosovo elects new Government


http://www.eciks.com/english/news/photos/assembly09010801.jpg


Prishtinë, 9 January 2008 – The 120-seat Parliament of Kosovo elected today the 40-year-old chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army UÇK, Hashim Thaçi, to head the new Kosovo Government for a period of four years.

The voting follows an agreement on forming a coalition reached by Kosovo’s two main political parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, and their formerly bitter rivals, the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK.

Both parties signed this agreement on Monday after several weeks of tough negotiations following the inconclusive parliamentary elections held on 17 November.

Thaçi will preside over a cabinet of 15 ministries, out of which seven will belong to his party and five to the LDK, while three ministries will be run by representatives of ethnic minorities living in Kosovo.

As part of the deal, Kosovo’s President Fatmir Sejdiu, a veteran LDK politician, will remain in his post for a new five-year term. It follows last year’s agreement among political parties and the UN administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, to amend the constitutional framework that stipulates a three-year term for the presidency.

Jakup Krasniqi, secretary general of PDK and a former spokesman of the UÇK, has been elected for the position of the President of the Parliament of Kosovo.

The new government will have following members:

Hashim Thaçi (PDK), Prime Minister

Hajredin Kuqi (PDK), Vice Prime Minister

Ramë Manaj (LDK), Vice Prime Minister

Fatmir Limaj (PDK), Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication

Zenun Pajaziti (PDK), Minister of Interior

Nekibe Kelmendi (LDK), Minister of Justice

Arsim Bajrami (PDK), Minister of Public Services

Ahmet Shala (PDK), Minister of Finance and Economy

Enver Hoxhaj (PDK), Minister of Education, Science and Technology

Skender Hyseni (LDK), Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports

Sadri Ferati (LDK), Minister of Local Government

Mahir Yagcilar (KDTP), Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning

Nenad Rashic (SLS), Minister of Labour and Social Welfare

Lutfi Zharku (LDK), Minister of Trade and Industry

Justina Pula-Shiroka (PDK), Minister of Energy and Mining

Alush Gashi (LDK), Minister of Health

Boban Stankovic, Ministry for Returns and Communities

Idriz Vehapi (PDK), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

In his speech in front of the Kosovar Parliament, the newly elected Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi, mentioned the economic development and investments in energy and infrastructure as priorities of the new government. He also announced a series of measures to promote foreign investments in Kosovo.

Kosovo has been administered by the UN since NATO bombing in 1999 pushed out Serbian forces to end the ethnic cleansing and mass killing of ethnic Albanians.

Kosovo’s newly-elected authorities are set to declare the territory’s independence from Serbia, in accordance with Ahtisaari’s plan, within weeks.

ECIKS

EU in Kosovo

Prishtina, 8 January 2008 - The future EU mission in Kosovo will not only focus on justice and police system, but it will also donate about two billion Euros to be used for the priorities of the Kosovar Government, said government sources in Prishtina.

According to those sources, some 1.5 billion EUR will be used for energy, education and economy.

Actually theyre only going to give 1.8 billion

As fo the 1.5million on energy,education snd economy .
I heard the Hashim Thaçi (the new Prime minister) wants to spend more of that money on infrastructure

Phone calls worth €14m in two days (Koha Ditore)
Citing Koha Ditore, Head of PTK Mobile Telephony Driton Halili informed that phone calls worth €14.1m have taken place through the network of Vala Mobile Telephony only during 31st of December and 1st of January. Messages worth over €2.2m have been exchanged during this time.

Halili admits that there have been delays in sending the messages despite Vala’s greatest efforts to prevent these. “During the second half of February, Vala will improve technically as we are working to redesign the network due to the expansion of residences and we are also changing antennas in order to increase the level of our coverage,” stated Halili.

Kosovo diaspora investing at home

Prishtina, 15 January 2008 - Forum 2015, a policy institute founded by Kosovo Soros Foundation and the Riinvest Insitute, has issued a report showing that 11% of Kosovars living abroad are interested in investing in Kosovo.

Further data provided by the forum informs that 10% of the general investments in the privatisation process in Kosovo are a contribution of Kosovars living abroad. Moreover, the report states that apart from consisting of a large number of people, the Kosovar Diaspora has the financial potential that can serve as an impulse for economic investment in Kosovo.

ECIKS

Kosovo Government open to privatization of KEK



Prishtinë, 17 January 2008 - The Kosovo Government is not turning down the option of privatising Kosovo Energy Company (Korporata Energjetike e Kosovës - KEK). Deputy Minister of Energy and Mining, Blerim Rexha, stated the Government is collecting facts to find a better model of privatisation than the one proposed by the KEK management. In addition to this he stated that KEK is like a damaged car and the Government has two exit roads: “to sell it as a scrap metal or to repair it and sell it in a better state”.

Rexha stated that the new Government does not agree selling the best parts of KEK. According to him the sale of the corporate can be done altogether, he continues also saying that MEM is collecting facts to sell the debts or privatise the distribution, but there isn’t anything final in this direction.

The situation of KEK indicates that this company is far away from a favourable situation for privatisation. According to the Athens’s treaty, within the restructuring of the energy sector in Europe, respectively in South-East Europe, was supposed to complete the first incorporation and head towards privatisation of its departments. By incorporation and despite the division of the financial accounts, the different KEK Departments such as digging, generation and distribution, could also do the full division of assets. KEK departments after the incorporation would have been able to contract each other for the services. They would not only operate by separate budget, but each department would be able to determine its costs.

The idea is that the incorporation would discharge the government’s budget by the request to invest in KEK and would open the path for private capital. Rexha added that KEK was supposed to be incorporated in June 2007, but the KEK management hasn’t done any step in this direction.

ECIKS

Vera kosovare, e prodhuar në komunën e
Rahovecit, po pushton tregjet evropiane.


Rahovec, 28 janar —
Bujqësia është një ndër sektorët
më të rëndësishëm në zhvillimin
ekonomik të vendit, prandaj duhet
të trajtohet mirë.
Kështu u tha gjatë vizitës së
krerëve të shtyllës IV të UNMIKut,
Agjencisë Kosovare të Mirëbesimit
(AKM) dhe Bashkimit të
Sindikatave të Pavarura të Kosovës
(BSPK) bërë komunës së
Rahovecit.
Paul Acda, kreu i shtyllës IV të
UNMIK-ut, tha ndërkaq se veraria
"Stone Castle" dhe ndërmarrja
e përpunimit të grurit "Sillos"
në Rahovec konsiderohen si më
të suksesshmet në punën e tyre
pas privatizimit dhe kjo, siç tha
ai, ishte arsyeja e kësaj vizite. Ai
së bashku me përfaqësues tjerë
të UNMIK-ut, AKM-së dhe BSPKsë,
pasi provuan verën e verarisë
"Stone Castle", e cila është privatizuar
në vitin 2006 me "Spin Off
special", thanë se vera është mjaft
cilësore dhe theksuan se Kosova
do të jetë ndër vendet me prodhimtari
më të mirë të verës në
Evropë. Ndërsa Shani Mullabazi,
menaxher i kësaj ndërmarrjeje,
tha për KosovaLive se ata janë
shumë optimistë që një ditë do
të jenë më të mirët në Evropë për
prodhimin e verës. Ai gjithashtu
tha se në vitin 2006 janë zhvilluar
shumë trendët e eksportit, çka e
konsideroi si sukses të verarisë.
Gjithashtu Mullabazi njoftoi se
në dy vitet e fundit janë bërë rehabilitimi
i vreshtave, ndërrimi i
vijës së mbushjes, renovimi i godinës
dhe se këtë vit priten rezultatet
e para pas shumë investimeve.
"Rrushi ka përmbajtje të mirë
dhe këtë e kanë vlerësuar edhe
tre venologë, një nga Franca, nga
Australia dhe Bullgaria, të cilët e
kanë vlerësuar lartë cilësinë e rrushit
që prodhohet në Kosovë,
prandaj edhe vera është shumë
kualitative ", tha ai.
Shefi i shtyllës IV të UNMIK-ut,
Acda, drejtori i AKM-së, Jasper
Dick dhe Haxhi Arifi- kryetar i
BSPK-së, gjatë ditës u takuan edhe
me përfaqësues të Komunës
së Rahovecit dhe vizituan ndërmarrjen
e përpunimit të grurit
"Sillos", në Xërxë të Rahovecit.
Kryetari i Komunës së Rahovecit,
Qazim Çeska, ndërkaq shtroi
problemin e 20 përqindëshit, të
cilat AKM-ja është e obliguar që
t'ua shpërndajë punëtorëve nga
fondi i privatizimit të ndërmarrjeve.
"Kompania NBI-Rahovec (Stone
Castle) dhe 28 Nëntori janë
kompanitë më problematike sa i
përket pagesës prej 20 për qind
nga privatizimi i ndërmarrjeve
dhe kjo duhet të bëhet, sepse ata
punëtorë e kanë fituar atë me
punë", tha ia, duke shtuar se një
numër i madh i atyre mbajnë familje
dhe janë të papunë.
Nga ana tjetër, drejtori i AKMsë,
Jasper Dick, tha se janë shumë
afër kryerjes së obligimeve të tyre.
"Problemi i vetëm aktualisht
qëndron tek kompletimi i bordit
dhe sapo të bëhet kjo, ne do të
fillojmë të merremi seriozisht me
kryerjen e obligimeve që kemi
ndaj punëtorëve", premtoi ai.
Gjithashtu edhe kreu i BSPKsë,
Arifi, u premtoi atyre që ai personalisht
do të kujdeset që punëtorët
ta marrin atë që u takon, me
këtë rast 20 për qind nga procesi
i privatizimit të ndërmarrjeve.

Zhvillimet e përgjithshme ekonomike gjatë vitit 2007 dhe një perspektivë e shkurtër për vitet vijues


Nga Haki Shatri

Zhvillimet ekonomike të cilat e përshkuan Kosovën gjatë vitit 2007, karakterizohen me një rritje të parashikuar ekonomike prej 3.2% në terma realë dhe me një inflacion që sipas vlerësimeve të fundit, kap shifrën prej 3.5%. Niveli i eksporteve vazhdon të rritet dhe deri në fund të vitit 2007 pritet të shënojnë rritje prej rreth 20%, krahasuar me vitin 2006. Në anën tjetër, edhe pse niveli i importeve ende është i lartë, një tregues i mirë që vlen të theksohet, është edhe struktura e importeve në ndryshim e sipër në të mirë të makinerisë prodhuese. Në këtë kontekst, investimet deri në fund të vitit pritet të rriten me rreth 7%. Pra, kontributin kryesor në rritjen ekonomike për këtë vit, e kanë pasur rritja e investimeve dhe eksporteve.



Ndër investuesit kryesorë gjatë vitit 2007 kanë qenë, kryesisht kompanitë e privatizuara si Feronikeli, Llamkos etj., të cilat po ashtu projektojnë eksporte të larta në vitet në vijim. Njëherit, viti 2007 e karakterizon Kosovën me hyrjen në treg të disa kompanive të reja e që vlen të theksohet operatori i dytë i telefonisë mobile dhe internetit “IPKO” me investime rreth 120 milion euro, si dhe dy bankat e reja “BKT dhe TEB”, e po ashtu edhe fondi i ri pensional “Kosovaro-Slloven”.



Ky progres ekonomik është arritur edhe përkundër pengesave të shumta ekonomike, të cilat sipas studimeve tona, mbesin infrastruktura e dobët fizike, si ajo e transportit dhe energjetikës, po ashtu edhe mungesa e infrastrukturës adekuate ligjore dhe sundimi i ligjit. Në veçanti një barrierë për një zhvillim të qëndrueshëm afatgjatë ekonomik mbetet edhe sistemi arsimor.



Për t’i adresuar të gjitha këto vështirësi, MEF-i koordinoi procesin e hartimit të strategjisë zhvillimore ku u identifikuan politikat e nevojshme dhe sektorët prioritarë që do ta shtynin zhvillimin ekonomik përpara. Në harmoni me këto identifikime u përpilua planveprimi apo Korniza Afatmesme e Shpenzimeve, e cila detajizoi projektet konkrete për implementimin e këtyre politikave.



Në këto projekte investive, vend kyç zënë sektori i energjetikës me plan të modernizimit të rrjetit dhe hapjes së rrugës për investime private në kapacitete të reja gjeneruese si Kosova C. Njëherit edhe transportit i është kushtuar rëndësi e veçantë duke alokuar mjete të konsiderueshme për ndërtimin e autostradave R6 dhe R7, që lidhin Kosovën me të gjitha vendet fqinje. Në fushën e arsimit, mjetet shtesë janë alokuar për ndërtimin e shkollave të reja që përfundimisht do të eliminojnë ndërrimin e tretë dhe të katërt.



KASH-i është bazë për hartimin e buxheteve vjetore. Buxheti i vitit 2008 shënon rritje enorme krahasuar me atë të vitit 2007 ku shpenzimet rriten nga 717 sa ishin në vitin 2007 në 1,027 milion për vitin 2008, pra një rritje prej 43%. Rritja e shpenzimeve u mundësua pjesërisht nga niveli më i lartë i të hyrave, se sa ato të parashikuara për vitin 2007, si dhe pritjet për të hyrat në vitet vijuese.


Në perspektivë afatgjate, të gjitha këto zhvillime flasin për një progres ekonomik në të ardhmen. Këtyre zhvillimeve duhet shtuar edhe finalizimin e procesit të privatizimit, i cili pritet të japë frytet e tij në vitet në vijim, duke krijuar vende të reja të punës dhe rritje të eksporteve, që vetëm në vitin e ardhshëm pritet të kapin vlerën prej 300 milion eurove. Gjithashtu me zgjidhjen e statusit politik të Kosovës, si dhe me përmirësimet e pritura në infrastrukturë, pritet të krijohet një klimë më e mirë e biznesit dhe kështu të stimulohen investimet e huaja direkte. E gjithë kjo do të rezultojë me rritjen e kapaciteteve prodhuese, konkurrencës, përmirësimin e deficitit tregtar, si dhe uljen e papunësisë.


Ekonomisti

Maqedonia dhe Kosova do të lidhen edhe me një autostradë dhe dy vendkalime të reja kufitare

Ministri i Transportit dhe Postë-Telekomunikcionit të Kosovës, Fatmir Limaj, deklaroi sot në Shkup se në një të ardhme të afërt Maqedonia dhe Kosova do të lidhen edhe me një autostradë dhe dy vendkalime të reja kufitare. Këto komente, Limaj i bëri pas një takimi që pati me homologun e tij maqedonas, Mile Janakieski dhe me zëvendësin e tij, Skender Palloshi, nga të cilët ka marrë edhe premtimin se në rast të embargos serbe, Maqedonia nuk do ta dëmtojë tregun kosovar.
Shkupi dhe Prishtina do të lidhen edhe përmes një autostrade, oferta për projektin e së cilës do të shpallet javën e ardhshme. Ndërsa, me zgjidhjen e statusit të Kosovës, Maqedonia dhe Kosova do të hapin edhe dy vendkalime të reja kufitare , që do të lidhin Gjilanin me Kumanovën dhe Restelicën me Gostivarin, deklaroi sot në Shkup, Ministri i Transportit dhe Postë-Telekomunikacionit të Kosovës, Fatmir Limaj, pas një takimi që pati me homologun e tij maqedonas Mile Janakieski dhe me zëvendësin e tij Skender Palloshi.
Nga ana tjetër, zëvendësministri i Transportit dhe Lidhjeve të Maqedonisë, Skender Palloshi tha se me zgjidhjen e statusit të Kosovës , do të ketë investime më të mëdha në ndërtimin e infrastrukturës rrugore .
Në rast të vendosjes eventuale të ndonjë embargoje nga Serbia, pas shpalljes së pavarësisë së Kosovës, ministri Limaj ka marr sot premtimin se Maqedonia nuk do ta dëmtojë tregun kosovar.
Vizita e sotme e Limajt ishte e para në Maqedoni prej se ai është zgjedhur ne krye të Ministrisë së Transportit dhe Postë-telekomunikacionit të Kosovës.

^^ thats amazing news... i just heard it on RTK...

In english: next week the project for a new Prishtina-Skopje highway will be announced...:cheers:

Thaçi blocks UNMIK-approved energy contracts




Friday, 01 February 2008
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi has blocked 17 single-source tenders at the Kosovo Power Corporation (KEK), which were previously allowed by the UNMIK chief, German Joachim Rücker.
Express newspaper adds that the cancelled tenders worth over 20 million euros are for repairing Block A5 and the Coal Excavator. Citing unnamed sources, the paper notes that the company contracted to carry out repairs was the German branch of the Alstom company.

“The 16 cancelled tenders were single-source and it is suspected that there were many fixes,” added the source. The same source noted that this was done following an order by Rücker and the funds were allocated from the Kosovo budget.

Despite investments approaching $1 billion by the EU and Kosovo budget in the repair of Kosovo's two ageing coal powerplants, powercuts are still common in Kosovo. Critics have mantained that with the same amount of money a completely new powerplant of the current capacity could have been constructed. The bid winner for a new powerplant to be completed in 2013 will be announced after status resolution.

EU's Kosovo mission will be called 'EULEX'


http://www.newkosovareport.com/images/stories/euflagNKR.gif



Friday, 01 February 2008
The European Union’s forthcoming police and justice mission in Kosovo is to be called EULEX, Balkan Insight can reveal. Yesterday [Thursday] Brussels decided on the official name of the future EU mission in Kosovo,” the Deputy Head of the EU Planning team in Pristina, Alessio Zuccarini, told Balkan Insight.

“Lex”, the Latin word for law, will be attached to the European Union’s initials to form the name of the new mission.

EULEX is expected to have a supervisory role over justice and policing in Kosovo whose ethnic Albanian-dominated Assembly is set to declare independence from Serbia in the near future.

Since the end of the 1999 Kosovo war those functions have been in the hands of the UN administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, which will now be replaced in practice by the new EU mission.

Zuccarini explained that “EULEX is ready”, and he added that “it is only awaiting the green light” to go ahead with its deployment.

The EU summit in December agreed in principle on the deployment of the mission, however, a planned discussion by EU foreign ministers on its details, scheduled for January 28, did not take place.

It has not been made public when EULEX is to arrive in the UN-administered territory.

However, observers in Brussels say a final decision the mission’s deployment may be taken before Kosovo declares its independence, so that EU members that are opposed to Kosovo’s statehood without the UN’s approval, will not be seen as endorsing independence.

“There is broad support from member states for the deployment of EULEX,” Zuccarini said in the interview for Balkan Insight.

An EU Planning team has been working in Kosovo on preparing and coordinating the mechanisms required for the establishment and successful operation of EULEX.

According to expectations, it will take a transitional period of four months before EULEX takes charge of all activities assigned to it.

Qeveria miraton buxhetin e rishikuar të Kosovës me një ngritje prej 44 milionë €

02.02.2008 ET Prishtinë (KosovaLive)

Qeveria e Kosovës, në mbledhjen e rregullt mbajtur të shtunën, miratoi në parim Projektligjin e rishikuar të buxhetit të konsoliduar të Kosovës për vitin 2008, me një ngritje prej 44 milionë euro, nga ai që kishte miratuar Qeveria e Agim Çekut dy muaj më parë.


Kosovos consolidated budget: reapproved by the new government with 44 million euro increase

Hello,

Please help me with one simple question.

What real estate portals (where people sell and buy apartments etc) are most popular in Kosovo?

Regards,
Pilvekas

Gati për Mitrovicën


UNDP së shpejti fillon implementimin
e projekteve në Mitrovicë.


Mitrovicë, 7 shkurt —
Asistentja e sekretarit të përgjithshëm
të OKB-së, Kori Udovicki,
e shoqëruar nga drejtoresha
e byrosë për preventiva
të krizave dhe rehabilitimit,
Katleen Carmaro, si dhe shefi
i zyrës së UNDP-së në Prishtinë,
Frode Mauring, të enjten
kanë qëndruar në Mitrovicë,
me ç'rast janë takuar me
kryetarin e kësaj komune, Bajram
Rexhepin.
"Gjatë ditëve të kaluara kemi
bërë identifikimin e disa
projekteve konkrete, të cilat do
të zbatohen në pjesën veriore,
atë jugore dhe Zveçan. Drejtorët
tanë që marrin pjesë në
këto grupe punuese, kanë identifikuar
si nevojë çështjen e tregut,
ku janë blerë tendat, një
pjesë e parkut për gjelbërim si
dhe disa projekte të tjera prioritare
të cilat shpresojmë se do
të implementohen shumë
shpejtë", tha kryetari Rexhepi
pas takimit me zyrtarët e
lartë të UNDP-së.
Ai tha se nga të pranishmit
ka kërkuar mbështetje për këshilltarë
si në raport për publikun
dhe përgatitjen e projekteve,
të cilat do të konkurrojmë
për konferencën e donatorëve
që do të mbahet në
qershor, si dhe mundësi për
mbështetje në të ardhmen për
ngritjen e kapaciteteve humane,
përfshirë përgatitjen e personelit
dhe trajnimin e shërbimit
civil në drejtim të
ngritjes së efikasitetit në punë
të komunës së Mitrovicës etj.
Shefi i UNDP-së, Frode Mauring,
tha se tashmë janë identifikuar
projektet prioritare, të
cilat së shpejti priten të realizohen
në mënyrë që në përpjekje
të përbashkëta të ndihmohet
në zhvillim.
"Së pari është identifikuar
projekti i tregut, presim që kjo
të stimulojë aktivitete ekonomike
dhe mundësinë e angazhimit
për të papunësuarit dhe
të njerëzve të rrezikuar që duke
u krijuar kushte të zgjedhim
problemet e tyre", tha Mauring.
Një ndër projektet e mëdha
zhvillimore është edhe ai i ujësjellësit
rajonal, i cili do të furnizojë
me ujë të mjaftueshëm
të gjithë qytetarët e këtij rajoni.
Në këtë projekt, që kushton
rreth 20 milionë euro, janë duke
ndihmuar ekspertë të KFORit
francez, që kanë punuar
fazën e fizibilitetit.
Sipas zyrtarëve komunalë,
deri më tani janë siguruar 10
milionë euro nga BE-ja në
mbështetje të projektit në fjalë,
ndërsa zyra amerikane edhe 5
milionë tjera, por mjetet tjera
do të kërkohen donatorë të
tjerë, por edhe nga tatimet e
mbledhura në komunat e rajonit.
Kori Udovicki vlerësoi se në
Kosovë fillimisht fokusi do të
jetë në procesin e kthimit,
ndërtimi i urave ndërmjet etniteteve,
ndërkaq tani ky fokus
do të futet në mundësimin
e jetës së bashkësive të cilat do
të përfitojnë, bashkëpunojnë
dhe krijojnë kushte për jetë në
sektorin social dhe në drejtime
tjera.
"Ne kemi shumë pak para tona,
por ato i sigurojmë nga donatorët
dhe kështu mundohemi
të sjellim donatorët tek
njerëzit të cilëve duam t'u ndihmojmë",
tha Udovicki. Sipas
tij, qytetarët duhet të identifikojnë
prioritet e pastaj të vendoset
për realizimin e tyre, ku
mund të përfshihet edhe kthimi
i shqiptarëve përtej Ibrit.
Për fazën e parë të zbatimit
të projekteve në Mitrovicë,
UNDP-ja ka ndarë shumën prej
1,5 milion euro. /Kosovalive

Gjermani ready to invest in Kosova

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2103/gjermaniarx3.png

CCIT

Kosovo PM to tackle corruption

Pristina - Three of Kosovo’s biggest public companies have come “top” in the corruption stakes, according to Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who called for a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities.

Pristina International Airport, the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), and the Post and Telecommunication of Kosovo (PTK), are all mired in financial irregularities, says the latest report by Kosovo’s auditor-general.

“The Airport, KEK and PTK need to be investigated by the competent authorities as soon as possible,” Thaci said, and called the three companies “champions in corruption”.

Thaci met with the Director of the Auditor Office, Linda Kasella, who presented a report that disclosed that many public enterprises were involved in a range of irregularities.

By stating that his government “will show zero tolerance towards crime and corruption,” Thaci encouraged the auditor-general to start investigations at the central government as well as at the municipal levels.

Thaci pledged that his governing would make sure “the public money is properly managed”.

Balkan Insight

EAR drafts development strategy for private sector

Prishtina - KTV reports that a development strategy for the private sector in Kosovo is currently being drafted. The strategy intends to encourage foreign investments and economic development in general.

According to officials of the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), the strategy is to be implemented during 2008-2013 and the final report should be finished within a period of 10 days. The officials believe the conditions for investments will improve after Kosovo’s final status resolution.

ECIKS / KTV

Draft-kushtetuta e Kosovës është publikuar për diskutim publik:

http://www.kushtetutakosoves.info/repository/docs/DRAFTKushtetuta.%20Shqip..pdf

do you know when kosova will apply to the IMF, WTO and World Banks? those are easy institutions to enter as the US is the major donor. their entrance there should speed up economic progress and open up new loans.

do you know when kosova will apply to the IMF, WTO and World Banks? those are easy institutions to enter as the US is the major donor. their entrance there should speed up economic progress and open up new loans.

dont know when.. but im pretty sure all that is planned as well ;)

Honestly.

If you want to post an article, first, provide a link. second, make sure it is a credible source. third, if it looks like bullshit, it probably is, in which case, what's the point of posting it?

Honestly.

If you want to post an article, first, provide a link. second, make sure it is a credible source. third, if it looks like bullshit, it probably is, in which case, what's the point of posting it?

where did that come from? and where was there a bs article?

Deleted.
Basically it was an article that's been tinkered with, names changed, with some ill intent. And no source.
It just got blown out of proportion

Good job cleaning up the thread Filip!:applause:
Those threats against Macedonia were despicable.

Good job cleaning up the thread Filip!:applause:
Those threats against Macedonia were despicable.
Jeez didn't take long huh:no:

Don't be hatin' people...

Crazy Serb...I'm glad you didn't drink the kool-aid.

-


Austrian companies interested to invest in Kosovo


Friday, 22 February 2008

Head of Austria’s Liaison Office to Pristina, Gernot Pfandler met Friday the Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI), Lutfi Zharku, with who discussed the cooperation between the Austrian Office and MTI and eventual investments of 400 Austrian companies, who expressed interest to invest in Kosovo.

Pfandler in this meeting was accompanied by head of the Austrian Development Agency, Andreas Fritz.

Pfandler confirmed discussing with minister Zharku the cooperation between the Austrian Liaison Office and MTI in the future and eventual investments of Austrian companies in the Republic of Kosovo. He said Austrian Office supports the Economic Initiative for Kosova (ECIKS) and the Agency for Development of Small and Middle Enterprises.

On the other hand, minister Zharku said the ministry he’s heading will continue realization of important projects.

“We will continue with the projects and we are ready to wrap up those projects. MTI has the project, which we have handed over to the Austrian Development Agency and we have discussed the conclusion of that project. You know that Economic Initiative for Kosova is the official representative of the Agency for Promotion of Investment headquartered in Vienna and represents the German-speaking part, Germany and Switzerland”, said minister Zharku.

He confirmed discussing in the course of the meeting with the Austrian officials also the investment of more than 400 Austrian companies, interested to invest in Kosovo.

“We will stage the Day of Austrian Investors in Kosovo”, minister Zharku said.



KosovaPress

Milionat nga Zvicra


Prishtinë, 21 shkurt—
Qeveria e Zvicrës është aktivizuar
fuqishëm ta ndihmojë
Kosovën pas shpalljes
së pavarësisë. Vetëm brenda
dy ditëve, shteti zviceran
po nis projekte që kapërcejnë
12 milionë franga. Së
pari nëpërmes projektit të
ri Gjilani V. Zvicra do të financojë
ndërtimin e dy trafostacioneve
të reja dhe rehabilitimin
e dy trafostacioneve
ekzistuese në rajonin
e Gjilanit. Ky projekt do t'i
kushtojë qeverisë zvicerane
8.2 milionë franga. Ndërsa
kohëzgjatja e projektit
është nga marsi i këtij viti
deri në dhjetor 2010. Qëllimi
është stabilizimi i furnizimit
me rrymë dhe fuqizimi
i zhvillimit ekonomik në
këtë rajon. Vetëm në sektorin
e energjetikës, që nga
viti 2000, sipas zyrës Zvicerane
për bashkëpunim,
vendi i tyre ka dhënë 21 milionë
franga.
Ky shtet së bashku me Danimarkën
janë duke punuar
në një projekt për promovimin
e hortilulturës në
Kosovë, i cili do t'u kushtojë
4.45 milionë franga zvicerane.
Ndërsa projekti në fjalë
pritet të realizohet në një
fazë dyvjeçare.

Gazeta Express

Translation: Only three days after declaration of the "I" word of Kosovo, Swiss government plans to invest 12 million swiss francs in the energy sector and agricultural-sector in Kosovo...

I'm pretty sure that Switzerland is going to be one of the biggest donors to Kosove next to the EU and US. They have a big albanian community over there i think its something like 200-300k Albanians.

1 billion dollars to be spent on roads in the next three years, said the minister for transportation. He warned local companies to forget about the way they used to do business. He expects nothing but TOP quality.

RTK news.

This is a great news

The west is going to invest heavily in Kosovë now just to prove that they were right.

Three major external financial sources this year:

1. EU
2. International donor conference to be held in beginning of June
3. US "Independence gift" for 2008 to Kosovo - worth 350 million $ (decision made in 2007 to also include Kosovo, as one of the countries that benefit strong financial aid from US)




+ lots of development loans the government is planning to take for several projects

= a fantastic fresh start for Kosovo :cheers:

Lajme shume te mira nga Kosova. Fillimi i mbare gjysma e punes. Bravo!

Kosovo: Switzerland, Denmark invest in agriculture




http://www.newkosovareport.com/images/stories/ksagriculture.jpg

Saturday, 23 February 2008

Prishtina - The Governments of Switzerland and Denmark are currently investing in a joint project, aimed at developing the horticulture in Kosovo, has been acknowledged Friday at the inauguration of the project “Promotion of Horticulture in Kosovo”.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD), Idriz Vehapi, said the horticulture project will support fabrication of horticulture products.

“Our aim in the first line is increasing the productivity, loans for the farmers, honest competition between the producers and the import, promotion of local products, etc”, said Vehapi.He added that all this will be achieved with the donor’s contribution, while the MAFRD cooperation will be transparent in all projects.

Minister Vehapi said financial capacities of the Government were limited to support the agriculture, although there were some activities to aid the agriculture, such as removal of VAT for agricultural products.

On the other hand, representative of the Swiss Office, Senior Vendt, said Switzerland has supported the horticulture sector in Kosovo since 2001, throughout the Swiss project for promotion of horticulture.

Denmark’s representative, Jorgen Andersen, said this country joined the project in 2007.

“We have established a joint partnership between Switzerland, Denmark and Kosovo. We are today opening a new era. Yesterday, my Government has recognized Kosovo as independent state. We will be committee to Kosovo even in the future”, Anderson said.

Otherwise, Switzerland since 2002 has invested more than 8 million Swiss franks in the horticulture sector of Kosovo.

KosovaPress

This indeed is really good news. I think Kosova will flourish in the not too distant future. Im actually amazed at the Kosovars maturity shown throughtout the recent years!

This indeed is really good news. I think Kosova will flourish in the not too distant future. Im actually amazed at the Kosovars maturity shown throughtout the recent years!

Te fjalia e fundit ke SHUME te drejte. Si ne zgjedhjet e qeverise edhe ne mbajtjen e qestise. Shume ndryshe nga ne ktej. Politikanet tane duhet te marrin shembull nga ato te Kosoves.

Withers: 400 milionë dollarë ndihmë ekonomisë së Kosovës

Ambasadori amerikan në Shqipëri, John Withers, ka vlerësuar se shteti i ri i Kosovës do të hasë në shumë vështirësi, por ka shtuar se në muajt që vijnë Kosovës do t’i premtohen 400 milionë dollarë si ndihmë ekonomike.

“Do të ketë shumë vështirësi që shteti i Kosovës do të hasë përpara. Por, mendoj se pavarësia e Kosovës dhe shteti i ri janë në rrugën e demokracisë drejt paqes. Unë ndjehem krenar për rolin e SHBA-ve në arritjen e pavarësisë së Kosovës. Ne do të punojmë me organizatat e tjera ndërkombëtare për të arritur qëllimin e Kosovës së pavarur”, tha Withers në Konferencën mbarëkombëtare mbi sfidat e Kosovës pas shpalljes së pavarësisë, e organizuar nën kujdesin e presidentit të Shqipërisë, Bamir Topi dhe me nismë të "Gazetës Shqiptare" dhe gjithë grupit mediatik EDISUD.

“Ndër qëllimet tona do të jetë ndihma që do t’i japim ekonomisë së Kosovës. [B]Do të marr pjesë në një konferencë ndërkombëtare shumë më të madhe në muajt që vijnë në të cilën do të premtojmë 400 milionë dollarë në ndihmë të ekonomisë së Kosovës. Atje do ju drejtoj një fjalë organizatave të njohura ndërkombëtare për Kosovën”, tha Withers.

Ambasadori amerikan në Tiranë me ketë rast përshëndeti BE-në që ndihmoi në këtë proces të vështirë të ndërtimit të shtetit të ri. Por pa harruar Withers shtoi “po i drejtoj dhe një fjalë Serbisë. Nuk duam marrëdhënie të këqija me Serbinë, jemi të gatshëm të punojmë me Serbinë të arrijmë objektivat evropiane, dhuna nuk është rruga e duhur”, apeloi ai.

Në këtë konferencë kanë folur edhe presidenti i Shqipërisë, Bamir Topi, kryeparlamentari i Kosovës, Jakup Krasniqi, kryetari i PDSH-së, Menduh Thaçi, kryetari i PS-së, Edi Rama, kryetari i BDI-së, Ali Ahmeti dhe shumë politikanë e studiues të shquar. /BW/Telegrafi/

American ambassador in Albania, John Withers, promises 400 million dollars to be donated to Kosovo, during the international donation conference to be held in May/June.

Ky premtim me duket ekstra nga ai donacioni 350 million dollaresh, që u bë direkt nga buxheti shtetëror i Amerikës për vitin 2008 - i aprovuar ne fund të vitit 2007 :cheers:

Pesë sektorë strategjik dominojnë në konferencën e donatorëve

25.02.2008 ET Prishtinë (KosovaLive)

Projektet me prioritet që do të prezantohen në konferencën e donatorëve dhe të cilat kanë për qëllim rritjen ekonomike dhe përmirësimin e standardit jetësor do të fokusohen në sektorët e energjetikës, infrastrukturës, bujqësisë, shëndetësisë dhe arsimit, tha të hënën për KosovaLive, zëvendëskryeministri Hajredin Kuçi.

The Macedonian government announced it will be requiring the import of coal for our Thermo-Capacities for the production of Electricity. Today i read that Kosovo is (among bulgarian and Macedonian companies) offering to sell us some of their coal. I think this is a good beginning for kosovo, to get stronger trading ties with Macedonia, and we can both profit a lot from this.
Last year Macedonia exported 400 million dollars worth of goods to Kosovo, while Kosovo exported only 14 million to Macedonia. This is a good chance to even things out!

yeah kosovo will have plenty of coal also when the sibovc mine is opened which will be very soon.

I don't understand why we should buy coal. We have more than enough lignite. Sure there is better coal on the planet, but our power plants are built for lignite.

The Macedonian government announced it will be requiring the import of coal for our Thermo-Capacities for the production of Electricity. Today i read that Kosovo is (among bulgarian and Macedonian companies) offering to sell us some of their coal. I think this is a good beginning for kosovo, to get stronger trading ties with Macedonia, and we can both profit a lot from this.
Last year Macedonia exported 400 million dollars worth of goods to Kosovo, while Kosovo exported only 14 million to Macedonia. This is a good chance to even things out!

yes, but im pretty sure this is a temporary solution...i dont think exporting raw coal is a good approach on softening the trade deficit from a long term perspective... Kosovo should focus on exporting produced goods and services, not raw material, minerals or other resources.

Kosovo should rather focus on using its huge coal reserves to produce energy - and then export it as energy ready for consumption (from 2012 this will be possible with the new 2000 megawatt powerplant).

I don't understand why we should buy coal. We have more than enough lignite. Sure there is better coal on the planet, but our power plants are built for lignite.
I do not understand it either.. We have 20 years left with the existing coal mine near REK Bitola, while the new mine (Brod Gneotino) has reserves for upto 50+ years.. and also there is coal in Katlanovo and Berovo (according to A1 TV).

and btw: the times of importing even the most basic goods from macedonia, serbia etc will soon be over, since Kosovo is focusing on sustaining itself, just like it mostly did before the war in 98..
Within five years you will see a drastically improved trade balance :cheers:

I think i read somewhere that they were planning on raising at least $2 billion at that donors conference. That would be a huge help for Kosove, being relatively small in size 2 bil could go a long way in infrastructure aspects.

skanderbeg
The way i see things, trade will increase, and even double in the next five years between Macedonia and Kosovo, however i only see the gap widening for you guys! And i speak strictly from a factualy point of you, i dont mean to be promoting my country. Simply because kosovo gets all of its oil and oil derivatives from us (this is huge money), and there is no way you can support yourselves on oil since you have no oil reserves or a pipeline, and your oil consumption will continue to grow as your economy does (hopefully). Also, the majority of refreshments and food products also come from Macedonia, and you can't simply just build all those types of factories in kosovo without any capital to invest.

Thing will come to their place soon, but for now, kosovo will rely heavily on imports.
@ sadosi
two billion sounds like a fantastical number for me. That's like the hundred trillion that Bono claims to raise for the AIDS foundations in africa..

I think 2 billion is very realistic since the west is so desperate to make a good example out of Kosovë. But anything above 1 billion would be enough to make a difference with the US already pledging half a billion its already halfway to a billion.
I dont think Kosove will become self sufficient anytime soon either. Trade with Macedonia or any other country benefits Kosove too. I think that also with the completion of the Durres-Prishtina highway in '09 trade will increase between Kosove and Albania also.

Autostrada Durres-Prishtine, presktiva e bashkepunimit ekonomik

E Hene, 25 Shkurt 2008

Bashkimi Evropian, Banka Boterore dhe Fondi Monetar Nderkombetar e kane konsideruar logjike zhvillimin e linjes, Nish-Prishtine-Durres me se shumti per hovin ne zhvillimin ekonomik qe do tu jape rruga zonave neper te cilat do te kaloje.

Kosova eshte nje territor ndermjet Durresit dhe Nishit, ndaj dhe zhvillimi ekonomik i saj eshte i varur shume nga lidhje transporti te shpejta. Investimi i fundit eshte nje shak i mire per te lidhur Kosoven me Korridorin 8. Tashme pjesa e serbe e rrugeve eshte nder me te perkeqesuarat, ne Ballkanin Perendimor, sidomos ne pjesa qe lidh Kosoven me Serbine, e cila nuk eshte perdorur shume pas 1999. Pavaresisht politikes se renduar ndermjet Beogradit dhe Prishtines per ceshtjen e pavaresise se Kosoves, biznesit kosovar i intereson nje lidhje e mire transporti me Serbine. Rreth 15 per qind te totalit te importeve te Kosoves jane nga Serbia, ndersa eksportet e Kosoves ne Serbi jane 16 per qind, sipas te dhenave te vitit 2006, por perfitimet nga linjat e transportit te Kosoves per Serbine do te jene afatgjata, per shkak se, aktualisht nevojat per tregti mallrash behen nga Porti i Selanikut e Greqise, i cili eshte 100 kilometer me larg nga Beogradi se sa nga Porti i Durresit. Qeveria e Kosoves i ka kerkuar Serbise qe te vendosi projektin e Rruges Durres-Prishtine-Nish ne listen e projekteve per financim nga nderkombetaret, por Beogradi e ka injoruar kerkesen. Sipas Henry Perritt, nje profesor i juristprudences ne 2003 ka bere nje studim mbi ekonomine kosovare, duke thene se arsyet e refuzimit te Serbise per kete projekt jane politike. "Shume njerez ne Serbi nuk deshirojne qe Kosova t'ia dale mbane ekonomikisht, keta mendojne se, kjo rruge e con Kosoven drejt fuqizimit dhe pavaresise", cilesoi ai. Ministri Serb i investimeve, i cili ka ne pergjegjesi edhe transportin, nuk ka bere komente per kete plan. Por analistet ne Beograd thone se, duhet vazhduar me zhvillimin e linjave Veri-Jug, Serbi-Greqi duke anashkaluar Kosoven.

Pervec probleme politike qe ka ky projekt, pritet qe te kete nje trafik te ulet levizje. Sipas Observaotit Europian te Transportit, SETEO, jo me shume se 1000 deri 2000 makina do te jete fluksi i levizjeve ne nje dite, nderkohe qe duhet te kete me shume se 10 000 levizje, per te bere atraktive financimet e donatoreve. Ne keto kushte qeveria shqiptare ka financuar pjesen me te madhe te projektit nepermjet kredive tregtare. Nderkohe trafiku ne Kosove eshte rritur ne 50 000 mije makina ne dite, atje nuk ka asnje iluzion rreth mundesive te financimit. "Nuk asnje qe te investoje ne Prishtine pa patur siguri" eshte shprehur, Shefki Ukaj zedhenes i Ministrise se Transportit ne Kosove. "Cdo gje eshte e lidhur me statusin" tha ai.

Koha Jonë

skanderbeg
The way i see things, trade will increase, and even double in the next five years between Macedonia and Kosovo, however i only see the gap widening for you guys! And i speak strictly from a factualy point of you, i dont mean to be promoting my country. Simply because kosovo gets all of its oil and oil derivatives from us (this is huge money), and there is no way you can support yourselves on oil since you have no oil reserves or a pipeline, and your oil consumption will continue to grow as your economy does (hopefully). Also, the majority of refreshments and food products also come from Macedonia, and you can't simply just build all those types of factories in kosovo without any capital to invest.

PROMKD: i dont expect general trade with macedonia to decrease. It will always increase as long as there is economic growth. :cheers:
But the emergency-like situation today won't last very long...

However, a drastic change in types of goods imported (especially imports on food products will decrease), and trade balance is expected. Five years is a very realistic time frame.

Factories for most basic food products already exist in Kosovo, in case you didnt know (40% of food products is produced in Kosovo) The main problem in Kosovo is the agricultural sector wich is totally ruined and not functional and not effective (totally neglected sector of the economy ) hence also the very high unemployment..
- many factories have problems in Kosovo, since they have to import even the most basic things such as milk, vegetables etc. This will come to an end pretty fast, since projects for development of agricultural sector are already done - only waiting for implementation.. and i expect this to happen fast because it is state controlled priority..

- In addition to that, Many food processing investors are awaiting the situation, to invest after the agricultural sector is more developed, in order to not rely on imports...

Considering this mentioned above, it is not surprising that Kosovo will import much less food products within the next five years...


One more thing important for Kosovo to get self sufficient on is the energy sector. in 2012, the new powerplant with 2000 megawatts capacity will be finished... This will not just meet the demands in Kosovo - but will export a very large portion..

Considering all these fundemental - state controlled projects mentioned above (agriculture and energy), you should not be surprised that Kosovos trade balance will drastically improve within five years..

And this was just the basics. In addition to this, comes the many private investments that are being made and will be made... for example alot has been invested in construction material factories, mineral proccessing etc..

and the new highway Durres - Prishtina will not only inrease trade with Albania rapidly, but will also give new possibilities to investors by giving Kosovo access to the sea and the port of Durres (which also is expected to be expanded and become one of the most important in the Balkans)


Thing will come to their place soon, but for now, kosovo will rely heavily on imports.

Thats what i said earlier...

Gati për donatorë


PRISHTINË, 25 SHKURT — Pas
shpalljes së pavarësisë së vendit,
institucionet kosovare janë duke
punuar për përgatitjen e projekteve
të cilat do t`i prezantojnë në
konferencën e donatorëve për
Kosovën. Zëvendëskryeministri
Hajredin Kuqi tregon se prioritet i
tyre gjatë prezantimit të kësaj
konference do të jenë projektet
që kanë të bëjnë me zhvillimin
ekonomik, si fushat e
energjetikës, infrastrukturës,
bujqësisë, shëndetësisë dhe
arsimit.
Sipas tij, këto janë disa nga
fushat prioritare fillimisht, ku
Kosova ka nevojë më së tepërmi,
mirëpo në të njëjtën kohë do të
kërkohen donacione edhe për
fusha tjera.
Zyrtarë të BE-së javë më parë
kanë paralajmëruar se në konferencën
donatorëve, e cila pritet të
mbahet në muajin qershor,
Kosova do të përfitojë mbi 1 miliard
euro.
Kjo konferencë e cila konsiderohet
si ndihma më e madhe për
vendin tonë, nga të gjithë zyrtarët
e institucioneve, shoqërisë
civile, organizatat e ndryshme,
shihet si shpëtim i Kosovës drejt
zhvillimit ekonomik dhe krijimit
të një bazamenti të fortë për të
ardhmen e shtetit më të ri në
botë.
Kuqi u shpreh se pas pavarësisë,
qëllimi dhe sfida kryesore e
qeverisë do të jetë zhvillimi
ekonomik i vendit dhe për këtë
arsye, sipas tij, konferencën e
donatorëve e shohin një nga
shanset më të mëdha për
rimëkëmbjen e Kosovës.
"Tani kemi filluar me fazën
konkrete të bashkëpunimit me
donatorët e mundshëm edhe me
institucione ndërkombëtare, por
edhe shtetet veç e veç", tha Kuqi.
Ai tha se për të qenë sa më i
përgatitur për konferencën e
donatorëve, ekzekutivi kosovar
prej kohësh ka vënë kontakte me
organizatorët dhe donatorët e
mundshëm, përfshirë institucionet
ndërkombëtare si
Komisioni Evropian, Banka
Botërore, Fondi Monetar
Ndërkombëtar, USAID-i dhe organizata
tjera.
Sipas tij, i tërë ky grup është i
ngarkuar për punën me donatorë
dhe me këtë i kanë kërkuar çdo
ministrie që t'i bëjë projektet e
veta dhe të konkurrojë në konferencën
e donatorëve, e një gjë të
tillë e kanë kërkuar edhe nga
kryetarët e komunave.
"Besoj se të gjithë ne deri në
mesin e muajit prill do të jemi të
gatshëm me projektet që ta kemi
një plan të zhvillimit strategjik, ku
në bazë të këtij plani dhe projekteve
të marrim donacione nga
shtetet dhe vendet e ndryshme të
botës", shtoi Kuqi.
Ai u shpreh se konferenca e
donatorëve do të mbahet më
vonë, jo menjëherë pas muajit
prill, mirëpo detyra e tyre për të
funksionuar si shtet demokratik,
është të aplikojnë më herët që
donatorët e mundshëm të shohin
nëse kanë një qëllim të njëjtë me
projektin, apo duhet ndryshuar
diçka.
Zëvendëskryeministri Kuqi tha
se grupin punues e kanë
angazhuar me qëllim të harmonizimit
të projekteve që vijnë nga
komunat dhe nga ministritë, që
fushat e caktuara të vihen me prioritet
dhe të jenë të gatshme për
prezantim.


Gazeta Express

I do not understand it either.. We have 20 years left with the existing coal mine near REK Bitola, while the new mine (Brod Gneotino) has reserves for upto 50+ years.. and also there is coal in Katlanovo and Berovo (according to A1 TV).

Perhaps the coal from Kosovo is cheaper. Think as a capitalist.:nuts:

Autostrada Durres-Prishtine, presktiva e bashkepunimit ekonomik
Maybe it's written in that article, but I don't understand Albanian, so... does Kosovo have a national motorway building plan? And I mean motorways, not expressways or something. At just over 10,000 km² you guys should in ~10 years have a very good network, especially if EU and US pump money into such projects...:cheers:

KOCOBO JE CPБИJA

Judging by this, I wouldn't like to answer your question.

Maybe it's written in that article, but I don't understand Albanian, so... does Kosovo have a national motorway building plan? And I mean motorways, not expressways or something. At just over 10,000 km² you guys should in ~10 years have a very good network, especially if EU and US pump money into such projects...:cheers:

Maybe a Kosovar Albanian can inform you better, but what I personally know from the news papers is that they are planning to build 2 highways: the Durres-Prishtina segment and the Prishtina-Skopje. Of course they will build the respective segments in their territory.

About the Durres-Prishtina, the Albanian segment is under construction, a very difficult one, because of the mountanious territory. This segment will give access to the ShenGjin portual city to Kosovo.

KOCOBO JE CPБИJA

Judging by this, I wouldn't like to answer your question.
What are you, 5 years old?:nuts: Maybe you should read UNSCR 1244. And it's called difference of opinions, btw. If you can't talk to a foreigner just because he doesn't agree with you, you have issues.:cheers:

Thanks, olsib. So I guess less than 300 km of motorways are in plan... but on longer term, how many would suffice and qualify as a good network? 800? 1000?

Well, I don't know numbers actually.

But maybe the Kosovar Authorities has published them or will do it soon.

26.02.2008, 17:31
KTA privatizing the Old Brewery Site in Peja

The Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), in charge of the privatization process in Kosovo, is offering for sale the assets of the “Old Brewery” in the western Kosovar city of Peja. The site is located on the outskirts of the city, about 80 kilometers from the Kosovar capital Prishtina.

The site is divided in two plots. Plot S1 is approximately 8.1ha. Plot S2 is approximately 0.42ha adjacent to the main road and contains three interconnected warehouses (total area 1723 m²), which are in good condition.

The larger plot, S1, contains the buildings and infrastructure of a former sugar factory which has not been operational since 1990. The main production hall is filled with redundant machines only suitable for sale as scrap metal. In addition, there are some redundant concrete pools where the sugar beet used to be washed. The old administration building of the sugar factory is also on this site.

The old Peja Brewery site is in excellent location, less than 40 minutes drive from the Montenegrin border and close to the junction of two main roads that lead to Prishtina and Mitrovica. Adjacent to the site is a customs clearance point and several transport agents.

The newly opened railway line to Prishtina and eventually to Shkup in macedonia is adjacent to the site with the railway station only 500 metres away.

The site has considerable potential as an industrial park or industrial incubator zone and being close to the centre of the city could be used for domestic and retailing buildings subject to planning consent.

For more information, notification of sale and pre-qualification and bid day, please visit the website of Kosovo Trust Agency

ECIKS / KTA

Kosovo to build new highway to Macedonia
Prishtina - Travellers between Kosovo’s capital Prishtina and neighbouring Macedonia will have an easier time after the completion of a planned highway that will link the two destinations.

Kosovo’s government will announce next week a tender for the construction of a highway from Prishtina to Macedonia, the Macedonian newspaper Utrinski Vesti reported. Fatmir Limaj, Kosovo’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunication, who made the announcement during a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Mile Janakieski, also said that there will be two new border control points between the two territories.

Limaj did not offer a concrete timetable for the project, but said the road and the border control points will be a reality “in the near future,” as quoted by Utrinski Vesti.

Though the drive between Prishtina and Skopje is only 86 km, the quality of the two existing roads makes it unreliable. The main E-65 road to Skopje, which goes through the Hani i Elezit border control point, is endangered by landslides in rainy and winter weather. According to travellers, during much of the winter of 2005-06, the road was virtually impassable.

The second crossing at Globocica/Jazince and the winding mountain pass road that connects the southwestern Kosovo town of Prizren with Tetova in Macedonia is not much better. Beside the lack of clear signposting, a common annoyance associated with driving in the Balkans, travellers have reported the frequency of long queues at the crossing and the need for snow chains during the winter months.

Macedonia is Kosovo's biggest trade partner, after Serbia. Macedonian president has recently called on his country's business community to be ready to respond in case Serbia imposes an economic blockade on Kosovo after independence.

Kosovo to build new highway to Macedonia
Prishtina - Travellers between Kosovo’s capital Prishtina and neighbouring Macedonia will have an easier time after the completion of a planned highway that will link the two destinations.

Kosovo’s government will announce next week a tender for the construction of a highway from Prishtina to Macedonia, the Macedonian newspaper Utrinski Vesti reported. Fatmir Limaj, Kosovo’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunication, who made the announcement during a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Mile Janakieski, also said that there will be two new border control points between the two territories.

Limaj did not offer a concrete timetable for the project, but said the road and the border control points will be a reality “in the near future,” as quoted by Utrinski Vesti.

Though the drive between Prishtina and Skopje is only 86 km, the quality of the two existing roads makes it unreliable. The main E-65 road to Skopje, which goes through the Hani i Elezit border control point, is endangered by landslides in rainy and winter weather. According to travellers, during much of the winter of 2005-06, the road was virtually impassable.

The second crossing at Globocica/Jazince and the winding mountain pass road that connects the southwestern Kosovo town of Prizren with Tetova in Macedonia is not much better. Beside the lack of clear signposting, a common annoyance associated with driving in the Balkans, travellers have reported the frequency of long queues at the crossing and the need for snow chains during the winter months.

Macedonia is Kosovo's biggest trade partner, after Serbia. Macedonian president has recently called on his country's business community to be ready to respond in case Serbia imposes an economic blockade on Kosovo after independence.


Plisat how have you been man...you kind of just dissapeared there for a while lol

Anyways this news has been posted like 10 times already lol....stay encouraged to post news though :)

Hi Liburn,
Well I was in Kosova for one and half month, and took a holiday in Bali. But I think the time in Pristina was better than Bali. And when Im in Pristina computer is last thing on my mind.
I dont know if u been there or not?! If not u missed a lot.
For last post I did here, I was not aware of that. I saw only that there was a discussion about highways in Kosovo.
By the way congratulation.....and cangratulation to everyone, even to Serbians becouse this is better for them as well.
At least soon I think evone will know that our road is EU and not conflict. Sorry for all Serbians but is somthing simple that dosent work. No one can push 2 million people to leave with force, when that country has 6 milion people.
Sorry for small political comment, but I think it is time now for Balkan people to look towards future....the future in one country called EU.

Three days old:

Serbia’s electricity donation offer to UNMIK falls on deaf ears, Popovic says.

Mining and Energy Minister Aleksandar Popovic has criticized the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) for a failure to respond to the Serbian government’s offer to donate electricity to 17,500 households in the province, Tanjug reported over the weekend. In mid-January, Belgrade offered to donate about 25,000 MW of electricity to 12,500 Serbian and 5,000 ethnic Albanian households in the province, which frequently faces power outages, Popovic said. Kosovo energy corporation (KEK) produces about 800 MW of electricity a day, which is insufficient to cover Kosovo consumers’ daily need for 1,000 MW on average, he added.

Kosovo expected to invite bids for 2100 MW power plant construction by end-March, news agency learns.

Kosovo is expected to invite bids by the end of March for the construction of a 2100 MW thermal power plant, called Kosovo C, Tanjug reported over the weekend. Construction should be completed by 2014, and Serbia’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) is “expected to win the bid,” according to the news agency.

i find it hard to believe that the government would put another (hostile) government in charge of its power, i think tanjug needs to recheck its sources.

Three days old:


Kosovo expected to invite bids for 2100 MW power plant construction by end-March, news agency learns.

Kosovo is expected to invite bids by the end of March for the construction of a 2100 MW thermal power plant, called Kosovo C, Tanjug reported over the weekend. Construction should be completed by 2014, and Serbia’s state power utility Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) is “expected to win the bid,” according to the news agency.

Thats a crazy lie, that serbian newspaper is telling. Serbian EPS wasnt even among the invited 10 companies to compete for qualification. From 10 companies, only 4 have qualified, and those are:

- RWE from Germany
- CEZ/AES consortium from Czech Republic /USA
- EnBW/WGI from Germany/ USA
- Enel/Sencap from Italy/Greece and USA


The winner of the international competition was supposed to be announced in the beginning of this year 2008. But, the new government has decided to review, control and analyse everything the previous government has done - since they want to eliminate every possible indication/suspicion of corruption in the selection process. This is an important and wise decision i think - since we have to be sure that the winner of such an important project for Kosovo - is the company that offers the best solution. But as a result to this, the announcement of the winner - is postponed for a few months...

Can you describe me life in new "republic"?

What's new since 17th february?

What's new since 17th february?

Oh I was going to say something funny here...but its pointless since Ruslan isn't even here with us anymore.

------

BTW I read that the Albanian government would also invest in the TEC in Kosova...making it the first foreign investment by Albania outside its borders...and that the new TEC would thus be operated jointly and serve both countries. I can't find the article now...but thats great news. Where is it going to be located?

did you just skip over the article above you. where do you see the albanian government as one of the 4 companies?

did you just skip over the article above you. where do you see the albanian government as one of the 4 companies?

Kapedani is right... Kosovo and Albania are considering cooperating and investing together in the energy sector...This was announced during the recent conference held in Tirana: "Kosovo and the challenges after Indpendence" ( http://www.balkanweb.com/forumi_GSH/forumi_gsh.html ).....Although in the article further down, they are discussing a powerplant with 1200 megawatt capacity. So there are two possiblites here:

1. they are discussing another future project (not "Kosova C") which albania and kosovo would construct and own equaly.... the reason i think they are discussing another project is that the "Kosova C" project will have a capacity of 2100 megawatt (not 1200 like mentioned in the article further down)...
Plus the article says this idea/project was unveiled now (while the "Kosova C" project on the other hand is old news and an ongoing process)

2. or - it could be the "Kosova C" project they are considering to invest in together - but, that could only be done together with the foreign company that wins the competition to construct the powerplant... that way "Kosova C" would have 3 shareholders: Foreign company X, Kosovo and Albania (and all would profit from it according to % of owned stocks in the company)... But this is unlikely, since the winner of the competition would like to invest & own as much as possible for itself to profit more...

:cheers:

Anyway, here is the article - in the meantime lets wait for other news that clarifies what exactly is being planned:

Shqiperi-Kosove, aksionere ne TEC-in me fuqi 1200 MEGA

E Marte, 26 Shkurt 2008

Fatjona Mejdini

Shqiperia dhe Kosova po organizojne projekte te perbashketa ekonomike dhe energjetike per te zhvilluar te dy vendet. Keshtu, gjate takimit te djeshem, qe Kryeministri Berisha zhvilloi me Kryetarin e Kuvendit te Kosoves, Jakup Krasniqi, u shfaq projekti per ngritjen e nje termocentrali te perbashket per te dy vendet, qe pritet te ngrihet ne territorin e Kosoves. Kryeministri Berisha theksoi dje se Shqiperia po parashikon qe te jete aksionere ne termocentralin e madh qe do te ndertohet ne Kosove, i cili do te kete nje kapacitet te instaluar prej 1200 MEGA, ose 10 here me i madh se TEC-i i Vlores. Nga ana tjeter, Kryeministri Berisha theksoi se qeveria po merr te gjitha masat per te ndertuar akset rrugore qe do te lidhin Shqiperine me Kosoven, ne menyre qe shkembimet mes dy vendeve te jene me te lehta.

"Do perfundohen brenda afatit rruget kryesore qe lidhin Shqiperine me Kosoven, si Durres-Prishtine, rruga e Arbrit, Koman-Fierze", theksoi Berisha ne fjalen e tij. Po keshtu, gjate konferences se perbashket per shtyp me Kryeparlamentarin kosovar, Jakup Krasniqi, Berisha tha se qeveria shqiptare ishte e gatshem te ndihmonte me ekspertize institucionet e Kosoves, duke pasur parasysh veshtiresine qe mund te hasnin institucionet e nje shteti te sapokrijuar. Kreu i Kuvendit te Kosoves, Krasniqi, e falenderoi Berishen per ekspertizen profesionale, duke theksuar se Kosova do te merr pervoje nga Shqiperia per ndertimin e institucioneve te saj. Po keshtu, Krasniqi u ndal ne perpjekjet qe parlamenti i shtetit te ri po ndermerr, per te kaluar ne parlament me procedura te pershpejtuara ligjet e Paketes "Ahtisari", duke shprehu njekohesisht qellimin per nje te ardhme euroatlantike te Kosoves.

Kryeministri Berisha, gjate takimit qe pati me Krasniqin, nuk harroi te theksoje mirenjohjen qe ushqejne te gjithe shqiptaret ne Shqiperi, per qendresen dhe perpjekjet e kosovareve, per lirine dhe pavaresine e kombit. "Ne nje kohe kur ne Shqiperi kishte diktature te eger, kosovaret krijuan nje parti demokratike dhe kunder diktatures, me ne krye nje burre si Ibrahim Rugova, qe e udhehoqi Kosoven me idete paqesore te Gandit. Me pas, erdhi qendresa e madhe me heronj si Adem Jashari, i cili i fali lirise jeten e tij dhe te 54 anetareve te familjes se tij", deklaroi Berisha. Sipas tij, Pavaresia e Kosoves erdhi si nje investim mbinjerezor i qytetareve te saj. Nga ana e tij, Krasniqi ne takimin me Berishen, por dhe me Presidentin Topi, ka kerkuar mbeshtetjen diplomatike te Tiranes zyrtare per njohjen e shtetit te Kosoves, duke marre angazhimin per ta kryer deri ne fund nje angazhim te tille diplomatik. Te njejten gje ai kerkoi dhe nga kryesocialisti Rama.

Vizita

Kryeministri Berisha deklaroi dje se do te shkonte te vizitonte Kosoven e pavarur vetem pasi te miratohej paketa ligjore e Planit "Ahtisari" dhe perfaqesuesit e larte te ketij vendit te vizitonin Shqiperine. Ashtu sic e ka theksuar edhe here te tjera, Berisha deklaroi se, ndonese jo fizikisht, ishte i pranishem cdo dite ne Kosove. "Shpirtin e kam ne Shqiperi, zemren ne Kosove", deklaroi Berisha.

Rruget

Gjate takimit me Kryeparlamentarin e Kosoves, Jakup Krasniqin, Kryeministri Berisha theksoi se qeveria ishte e angazhuar per te nderuar me shpejtesi te gjitha rruget qe e lidhnin Shqiperine me Kosoven. Keshtu, kreu i qeverise deklaroi se se shpejti do te perfundoheshin rruge si Durres-Prishtine, rruga e Arbrit, Koman-Fierze. Sipas tij, infrastruktura rrugore do t'i afronte edhe me shume dy vendet.

Ekspertiza

Kryeministri Berisha premtoi dje ekspertize nga Shqiperia per institucionet e reja kosovare. Sipas tij, qeveria shqiptare ishte e gatshme te ndihmonte me ekspertize institucionet e Kosoves, duke pasur parasysh veshtiresine qe mund te hasnin institucionet e nje shteti te sapokrijuar. Kryetari i Kuvendit, Krasniqi, e falenderoi Berishen per kete ndihme, duke theksuar se Kosova kishte kenaqesi te merrte pervoje nga Shqiperia.

Meta-Krasniqi

Kryetari i LSI, Meta, ne takimin me Kryetarin e Kuvendit te Kosoves, Jakup Krasniqi, vleresoi se pavaresia e Kosoves eshte kurorezim i aspirates shekullore te popullit shqiptar per liri e vetevendosje. "Eshte nje kenaqesi e vecante qe jam sot se bashku me te gjithe drejtuesit e tjere te LSI-se per t'ju uruar mireseardhjen tuaj ne viziten e pare zyrtare te Kosoves se pavarur", tha Meta. Krasniqi vuri ne dukje se shpallja e pavaresise se Kosoves ishte nje enderr shekullore, jo vetem per shqiptaret e Kosoves, por per te gjithe shqiptaret e botes.

Kosovo is made it into the Worldfactbook.


https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html

^^ great :cheers:

Pershendetje te gjithve
Jam i ri ne kete forum por gjej rasitn tju uroj pavarsin e shum merituar edhe te shum pritur.
pacim shum lajme si ky vellezer ju pres ne tirane kete vere te pim te gjith nga nje kup raki per pavarsin e kosoves :cheers: :cheers:

Kosovo is made it into the Worldfactbook.


https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html

wow omg i can't believe this i've been waiting to see this and i thought that maybe next year the worldfactbook would put kosova in there but it was now, thanx a lot for the news man

Kosovo is made it into the Worldfactbook.


https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html


God save the United States! :cheers:

Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century, but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm until the early 13th century. The Serbian defeat at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule, during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War (1912), and after World War II (1945) the government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia led by Josip Broz TITO reorganized Kosovo as an autonomous province within the constituent republic of Serbia

Thats from world factbook....WTF is with that?

Pershendetje te gjithve
Jam i ri ne kete forum por gjej rasitn tju uroj pavarsin e shum merituar edhe te shum pritur.
pacim shum lajme si ky vellezer ju pres ne tirane kete vere te pim te gjith nga nje kup raki per pavarsin e kosoves :cheers: :cheers:

Welcome....im from melbourne too :)

Thats from world factbook....WTF is with that?

I was surprised to but i think what they did is they got the information from Yugoslavia and you know that serbs wrote that history. I did send them an email and hopefully they fix it, because there is greek and roman documents that say that Illyrians inhabited those areas way before slavs moved here.

I was surprised to but i think what they did is they got the information from Yugoslavia and you know that serbs wrote that history. I did send them an email and hopefully they fix it, because there is greek and roman documents that say that Illyrians inhabited those areas way before slavs moved here.

I agree with you, but its mostly our government fualt, its them who should contact them and not letting facts from Serbia reach them. They will go so far telling them we arrived in 50s and 60s :lol:

Don't forget to mention Pal Dukagjini and Leka Dukagjini, inventor of the Kanuni,

Kanuni = Albanian civilization
Kosova = Albanian civilization

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::cheers::nuts:



Let's just cut this crap atleast in this forum.

There is no historian out there who thinks Kosovo is the cradle of Serbian civilization.

By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo.

Thats funny because by the 17th century already some 70% of Kosova's population had converted to muslim. I guess...it was mostly Serbs.

Hartohet plani për “Trepçën”

Shtylla e Katërt e UNMIK-ut, disa muaj
para përmbylljes së misionit të saj në
Kosovë, ka hartuar një plan për ringjalljen
e minierave të "Trepçës". Një plan rreth të
ardhmes së "Trepçës", të cilin nuk donë ta
bëjnë publik, është duke e shqyrtuar edhe
Qeveria e Kosovës

ENIS VELIU
Prishtinë, 28 shkurt - Në përfundim
të misionit të saj në
Kosovë, më në fund Shtylla e
Katërt e UNMIK-ut ka një plan
për ringjalljen e "Trepçës", mirëpo
pa e marrë aprovimin e Qeverisë së
Kosovës, atë e mban ende sekret.
"Plani për riorganizimin e 'Trepçës'
është në një nivel të avancuar të
diskutimit me të gjithë faktorët e
rëndësishëm. Ky plan parasheh që
një ekip riorganizimi të zhvillojë
plane pro-aktive për ringjalljen e
aseteve më të rëndësishme të
minierave", thotë Besa Kabashi,
zyrtare për media në AKM.
Sipas saj, shpresohet që Qeveria e
Kosovës, në një të ardhme të afërt,
do të vlerësojë planin në diskutim
dhe, nëse pajtohet, do të ofrojë
përkrahje në mënyrë që implementimi
i këtij plani të fillojë.
"Aktualisht, Trepça si të gjitha
ndërmarrjet tjera shoqërore, është
nën administrimin e AKM-së".
Mirëpo, zyrtarë të Qeverisë së
Kosovës ngurojnë të flasin rreth
zhvillimeve eventuale të kompleksit
të "Trepçës"
Zëvendësministri i Energjisë dhe
Minierave, Blerim Rexha, thotë se
Qeveria aktualisht është duke i
diskutuar dhe shikuar ato plane
rreth "Trepçës", të cilat i ka gjetur
të gatshme. "Në këtë moment ne
jemi duke i studiuar ato, më
shumë nuk mund të japim
koment". Ai thotë se Qeveria do të
jetë e kujdesshme në rastin e fatit
të "Trepçës", ngase sipas tij me atë
janë të lidhur emocionalisht pjesa
dërmuese e shqiptarëve. Sipas tij,
miniera e "Trepçës" është shndërruar
pa pasur nevojë në një problem
politik.
Në anën tjetër, zyrtarë të minierës
së "Trepçës" thonë se me marrjen e
lejes për prodhim të rregullt
punët i kanë dukshëm më mirë se
në të kaluarën.
Menaxheri i përgjithshëm i
"Trepçës", Nazmi Mikullovci,
thotë se dita-ditës është duke u
rritur prodhimi i xehes e bashkë
më të edhe rritja e pagave të punëtoreve.
Ai nuk ka dhënë ndonjë koment
rreth të ardhmes së "Trepçës" pas
shuarjes së Agjencisë Kosovare të
Mirëbesimit, e cila pritet të ndodhë
në ditët në vijim.
Edhe zyrtarë të Komisionit për
Miniera dhe Minerale, institucion
ky i cili e bën kontrollimin dhe
licencimin e minierave, thonë se
niveli i sigurisë në minierat e
"Trepçës" është në nivelin e duhur
për të punuar normalisht.

/Lajm

Paret po vijnë


BE-ja ka ndarë 124.9 milionë
euro për Kosovën. SHBA-ja
është drejt ndarjes së 335
milionë dollarëve. Këto para
janë vetëm për vitin 2008.
Ndërsa pas konferencës së
donatorëve, që do të mbahet
në qershor, pritet të sigurohen
edhe 1 miliard euro.


Prishtinë, 28 shkurt—
Ndihmat janë shtuar në Kosovën e pavarur. Disa
muaj para konferencës së donatorëve, SHBAja
dhe BE-ja kanë rritur ndjeshëm shumën e ndarë
për Kosovën.
"Bashkimi Evropian në kuadër të Instrumentit
të Para-Anëtarësimit ka ndarë 124.9 milionë
euro për Kosovën për vitin 2008", tha në Prishtinë
shefi i Zyrës së Komisionit Evropian, Kjartan
Bjornsson, gjatë një takimi me zëvendëskryeministrin
e Kosovës, Hajredin Kuçi. Para shpalljes
së pavarësisë, Kosovës i ishin ndarë vetëm 65 milionë
euro për vitin 2008.
Këtij buxheti që ka ndarë BE-ja për Kosovën
do t'i shtohet edhe pjesëmarrja nga buxheti i Kosovës
me rreth 15 milionë euro, të cilat dedikohen
në investime të përbashkëta gjatë këtij viti,
që do të ndikojnë në forcimin dhe ndërtimin e
një politike nacionale për integrimin e Kosovës
në Bashkimin Evropian.
Bjornsson dhe Kuçi konfirmuan se investimet
më të mëdha në kuadër të fondeve të Instrumentit
të Para Anëtarësimit do të bëhen në fushën e
sundimit të ligjit, në fushat sociale-ekonomike,
në përmbushjen e standardeve evropiane dhe
në zhvillimin e sistemit të edukimit në Kosovë.
Këto nuk janë ndihmat e vetme.
Një shumë edhe më të madhe po e jep SHBAja.
Gjatë këtyre ditëve, nënsekretari amerikan i
Shtetit për çështjet politike, Nicholas Burns, ka
paralajmëruar se Kosova mund të marrë 335 milionë
dollarë ndihmë amerikane për vitin 2008,
një rritje prej katër herë në krahasim me vitin e
kaluar. Një shtytje edhe më të madhe shtetit më
të ri dhe më të varfër evropian pritet t'i jepet pas
Konferencës së Donatorëve, që do të mbahet në
qershor. Qeveria planifikon t'i sigurojë 1 miliard
euro nga kjo konferencë. Këto para do të përdoren
për projekte kapitale. Tashmë Qeveria Thaçi
e ka bërë të qartë se prioritet kryesor e ka energjetikën,
zhvillimin ekonomik, bujqësinë dhe arsimin.
Këta janë resorët kryesorë që kjo qeveri
do të kërkojë ndihmë në këtë konferencë.
T`paktën kështu ka paralajmëruar
zëvendëskryeministri Kuçi.
Pra, financime do të kërkohen kryesisht
për ato projekte që janë paraqitur
nga PDK-ja gjatë fushatës zgjedhore. Në bazë të
programit të kësaj partie, vetëm në sektorin
energjetik do të shkojnë mbi 300
milionë euro. Nëse kjo realizohet, atëherë kosovarët
do t`i harrojnë reduktimet e rrymës tek në vitin 2012.

/Express

EU Commission has allocated 125 million EUR for Kosovo

Brussels - The EU Commission has allocated €125 million for Kosovo for the budget year 2008. Priority will be given to the rule of law, social policies, European standards and the development of the education system.

Mr. Kjartan Bjornson, head of the EU Commission in Kosovo said that they have tried to prioritise their help on socio-economical issues in Kosovo as this is what Kosovo needed most.

Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi on the other hand emphasised that Kosovo is thankful to the EU and that the Kosovar Government will provide additional 15 million EUR for these purposes. He continued saying that Kosovo has an EU integration agenda.

ECIKS

Kosovo: plan for Trepça mines drafted

Prishtina - UNMIK Pillar IV is keeping its plan for the revival of Trepca mines in secret until it gets a green light from the Kosovo government.

According to Besa Kabashi, press officer at the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), this plan includes setting up a team that will develop pro-active plans for the revival of Trepca’s assets

Blerim Rexha, deputy head of the Ministry of Energy said that Kosovo Government is looking closely into the plan and it will be studied carefully as this is a very sensitive issue to the people of Kosovo.

Nazmi Mikullovci, manager at Trepca said that there is some production at Trepca. According to the press officials of the Independent Commission of Mines and Minerals, Trepca mines fulfil security standards.

ECIKS