The Ministry of Regional Development, today on 28.12.2020 held a press conference to present the achievements in 2020 and plans for 2021. At the conference for the end of 2020, MRD also invited the strategic partners with whom it has cooperated during 2020 and will continue to cooperate in 2021, as: EBRD, USAID, GIZ, UNICEF, KLGI Institute, as well as RDA Centre.

The opening of the conference and the presentation of the achievements of MRD for 2020 was made by the Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Enis Kervan. The same, presented the policies and programs implemented by MRD in 2020, and emphasized that during this year we have developed and implemented programs that have had a direct impact on balanced regional socio-economic development, through the support of municipalities to advance public infrastructure and stimulate economic development. We have provided considerable support to businesses, through grants, where we have managed to help them even in this difficult time in which we are faced with the Covid-19 pandemic. The implementation of these programs has expanded their capacity and increased exports in relation to imports. This year alone, about 1,200 new jobs have been created. We have supported the projects of civil society organizations, and cooperated throughout the year with CSOs, where we have involved their representatives in consultative processes related to policy making, as well as in order to increase transparency and professionalism, we have included them in the evaluation processes of project proposals of businesses and CSOs.

The Ministry of Regional Development, during this year has managed to functionalize the mechanisms of inter-institutional cooperation with line ministries and the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, regarding the exchange of data related to social and economic developments. Cooperation with municipalities has been continuous, said Minister Kervan. Cooperation with strategic partners and the results achieved together have a special place in the work and successes of MRD achieved in 2020. Minister Kervan, we would like to thank: EBRD, USAID, GIZ, UNICEF, and other partners. Minister Kervan, emphasized that five (5) regional development agencies (RDAs) and the Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI), were with us throughout the year and inseparable in the implementation of our activities. We are very grateful and thankful to them. Minister Kervan added that we had Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Kosovo Producers Club partners in relation to supporting businesses to increase their capacity and will continue to cooperate in the coming years.

Minister Kervan presented the assessment that the year 2020 was a successful year for the Ministry of Regional Development. These positive evaluations of the work of MRD are not only said by us, we have received the same from the National Audit Office, through the “Audit Report for 2019”, as an unqualified report and as one of the best evaluations. MRD has been evaluated by the NGO FOL that has implemented 100% of the Work Plan of 2020. Also, MRD has received the OAG and OSCE Award for Best Practice in Law Enforcement of the Law on the Use of Languages ​​in Kosovo”. Finally, Minister Kervan will present the strategic orientations and plans for 2021. We will work on completing the legal package for regional development, we will create an efficient system for monitoring balanced socio-economic development of the region, as well as a strategic goal, we also have participation and membership in any regional initiative. After the speech of Minister Enis Kervan, a presentation was made of the activities carried out in 2020 and plans for 2021 by Deputy Secretary General Mr. Besim Kamberaj. Afterwards, on the occasion of participating in the conference, the representatives of the strategic partners participating in the conference gave a keynote speech regarding the cooperation realized with the MRD.

Finally, the Minister of MRD expressed his gratitude to the media and conference participants, and wished everyone happy holidays.