The Ministry of Regional Development organized the annual Conference with the topic “Achievements in the field of regional development and strategic orientations of the Ministry of Regional Development”. The conference was held today on 03.12.2020 virtually, with the attendance of the following: Minister of Regional Development Mr. Enis Kervan, Deputy Secretary General of MARD Mr. Besim Kamberaj, chairpersons of the boards of five (5) Regional Development Agencies, namely the mayors of Shtime, Gjilan, Skenderaj, Istog and Rahovec, representatives of line Ministries, Kosovo Agency of Statistics, as well as directors for economic development of the municipalities. Whereas USAID, GIZ, EBRD, UNICEF were the international strategic partners that also participated in the conference. Among local partners the participants were as follows: RDAs, KLGI Institute and the economic operator AXA.

This conference was held with the purpose of presenting the achievements made thus far in the field of regional development, inter-institutional cooperation of MARD with line ministries and municipalities in the field of regional development, cooperation with strategic partners and the civil society. On this occasion, MARD also presented its strategic goals for the next 10 years in the field of regional development. This conference was opened by the Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Enis Kervan, who greeted the participants and presented all the achievements of MARD in the period of 2018-2020. Minister Kervan stressed that MARD works on balancing the regions as well as the socio-economic life of citizens between regions and all of this is achieved in cooperation with the relevant municipalities and institutions.

Through cooperation with line ministries, KAS and municipalities, MARD has managed to reflect the capital investments from the central and local level as well as the support of line ministries to the private sector through socioeconomic analysis. We have supported a significant number of projects carried out by civil society organizations every year. We have included the same in our activities related to policy making, or in the committees for the assessment of business project proposals. In cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, we have properly analysed and reflected the functioning of economic zones in Kosovo. For this cooperation, we are very grateful to the institutions I mentioned. Minister Kervan, added that this year, we have managed to establish very good cooperation with strategic partners/international organizations in Kosovo, such as the EBRD, UNICEF, and that we are in the process of designing cooperation with USAID and GIZ.

In the framework of the presentation of strategic orientations, Minister Kervan emphasized that we will work together with you for the drafting and preparation of legal and sub-legal package in the field of regional development; we will carry out promotional activities for the purpose of ensuring balanced development between five (5) development regions in Kosovo. We will promote the economic and human resources in all regions of Kosovo. We will continue to support municipalities, the private sector and the civil society in the coming years. I wish that this pandemic situation in which we find ourselves passes as soon as possible and that we return to having normal meetings rather than virtual ones.

After Minister Kervan, each of the mayors participating in the conference, such as Mr. Naim Ismaili, Mr. Lutfi Haziri, Mr. Bekim Jashari and representatives delegated by the mayors of Istog and Rahovec took the floor. The mayors praised the cooperation with MARD, in the context of the support MED provided to the municipalities for the implementation of numerous capital projects, as well as the support that MARD is giving to the private sector which at this time is in a pretty difficult position. The participating mayors emphasized that taking into account the mandate of this ministry and its field of activity, we consider that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo should increase the budget for this Ministry, highlighting the need for continued support from MARD to municipalities with capital projects and to private businesses with grants and subsidies. The mayors stressed that they will be ready to continue the cooperation with MARD in all aspects in order to advance and stimulate balanced regional development. After the mayors, the floor was passed to representatives of the international organizations/partners of MARD such as USAID, GIZ, EBRD, UNICEF.

A presentation was made at the conference by the representatives of MARD, numerous discussions were held and the conclusions of the conference were evidenced.