Quarterly newsletter of the Millennium OCT/DECOCT/NOV 2016 | ’s2016 MillenniumChallenge Development Challenger Office in Kosovo 3

The Millennium EDITION Challenge Corporation ONE (MCC) is an innovative 2016 and independent U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead the fight Kosovo ready to against global poverty. In December 2015, the face development MCC Board of Directors selected Kosovo as eligible challenges to develop a compact.

ompacts are large, five- - Country-led solutions: MCC over the past years has been year grants for countries requires selected countries to the decision of the Board of that pass MCC’s eligibil- identify their priorities for achiev- MCC to select Kosovo to benefit C a broad investment grant from ity criteria. Kosovo passed the ing sustainable economic growth the agency. “In December last criteria by improving indicators in and poverty reduction. Countries year, Kosovo was qualified to area such as democratic rights, develop their MCC proposals in develop the program “Compact fight against corruption and broad consultation within their Assistance, extensive investment economic freedoms. society. MCC teams then work in program that will enable Kosovo close partnership to help coun- to transform the economy with Created by the U.S. Congress in tries refine a program. special focus on creation of new January 2004 with strong bipar- jobs and eradicate poverty,” said tisan support, MCC is changing - Country-led implementation: Prime Minister Mustafa. the conversation on how best When a country is awarded a to deliver smart U.S. foreign compact, it sets up its own local Former MCC Vice President, assistance by focusing on good accountable entity, called the Kamran Khan said that the se- lection of Kosovo by the Board of policies, country ownership, and Millennium Challenge Account MCC’s program “Compact” has results. (MCA), to manage and oversee proved the great progress that MCC is a prime example of smart all aspects of implementation. has been made in this new place, U.S. Government assistance in Monitoring of funds is rigorous the establishment of democrat- action, benefiting both develop- and transparent, often through ic principles, to the rule of law ing countries and U.S. taxpayers independent fiscal agents. and the progress made in many through: In December 2015, the MCC indicators, most of which are Board of Directors selected reflected in the MCC’s scorecard. - Competitive selection: Before Kosovo as eligible to develop a a country can become eligible compact. “These are indicators according to receive assistance, MCC’s to MCC in terms of selection of places for the program” Com- Board examines its performance After the selection of Kosovo for pact “. And for Kosovo to be on independent and transpar- the compact program, Prime selected at this early age and in ent policy indicators and selects Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa a fairly short period of time, is a compact-eligible countries said that one of the most im- great achievement,”- said former

Photo by Agim Balaj Agim by Photo based on policy performance. portant achievements of Kosovo MCC Vice President Khan.

Kosovo is not alone. You have friends ready to help all over the world - and no greater friend than the United States of America. We want to help you transform your economy, reduce poverty, and promote a more prosperous future for the people of Kosovo and the children of Kosovo. That’s why, last December, the Millennium Challenge Corporation selected Kosovo to create a new development assistance compact between our nations. That could potentially provide hundreds of millions of dollars - direct dollars to Kosovo - to help foster a better environment for business growth and to draw outside investment, which will create urgently needed jobs.

US Vice President Joe Biden 2 OCT/DEC 2016 | Kosovo’s Millennium Challenger BITS AND PIECES we Our joint asked journey to a friend reform Kosovo

Dr Isa Mustafa Prime Minister of Kosovo

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Dr Isa Mustafa, writes on the difficult past of the country and the reforms that the local institutions have undertaken to enable Kosovo qualify for the MCC Compact As the youngest nation in Europe, with a very difficult past, Kosovo made its most significant efforts towards reconstruction and develop- ment. Post-war tasks were enormous but support we received from friends from around the world was substantial. United States govern- FAVORITE ment, the EU institutions and members states, NATO as well as donor agencies from as far as Japan and Canada have provided meaningful sup- port in reconstruction the country and establishment of institutions. KOSOVO Times have now changed. Kosovo is a country that has entered the PRODUCT? formal contractual agreement with the European Union, a sign of sta- bility and dedication to the highest European standards of governance, free market and open society. The needs of Kosovo have thus changed as Greg Delawie well. We must now enter deeper reforms to create a contemporary public Ambassador of the United States to Kosovo administration, fight the corruption and help state institutions become more responsive to the citizens’ needs. These reforms must create a land- Raspberries, and at that, Kosovo raspberries, are my absolute favorite fruit! scape that is attractive for foreign investors. Nothing quite compares to the health benefits of raspberries, which in- Our government has started these reforms. We have recorded success clude fighting cancer, maintaining cardiovascular health, boosting mood, in tackling corruption, we have maintained dedication to freedom of eco- memory and immunity, and so much more. nomic activity and we have nurtured a vibrant and dynamic civil society. I was recently at a raspberry farm in Katunishte, where I could eat This is why last year Kosovo has managed to fulfill the principle indi- raspberries fresh off the bush. It was a great opportunity to meet many cators that have qualified us for a Compact program by the Millennium of the village farmers, who have almost all begun commercially growing Challenge Corporation. Our successes were measured by independent raspberries, following in the footsteps of a few successful start-ups by organizations and UN agencies. We have also scored success in ranking their neighbors. Not only did the raspberries taste wonderful, but their of Doing Business in Kosovo while our growth rate has been the highest impact on the local economy was clear. Today, these farmers sustain in the Western Balkans. We aspire to further strengthen growth rate and their families with income from raspberry sales. Previously the farmers job creation. We are committed to continue significant policy reforms made $300 per hectare growing wheat, now they can earn $8000 - 10,000 towards fighting corruption such as introduction of electronic pro- per hectare with raspberries. They also employ their families and have curement system or contracting independent organizations to monitor offered jobs to many people from around the village during harvesting recruitment process for senior public positions. season.

Our economic growth has been dependent on contributions from the You can find this ripple effect in many regions of Kosovo. It is esti- vast Kosovo diaspora, both in form of remittances as well as diaspora mated that more than 1500 farmers are growing raspberries in different FDI. We must now unlock new sources of financing and investment for regions throughout Kosovo, and about 1000 hectares of raspberries are our capital projects. We must solve the bottlenecks in our economy, from currently under cultivation. Kosovo’s raspberries are not only tasty, the reliable energy supply to predictable judicial system and prompt tax but they are an important part of the agricultural development that administration. is helping to grow Kosovo’s economy. I only wish they were available year-round! I have established the Office of MCC Compact development in my own Office of Prime Minister and we have dedicated resources and invested This newsletter is a quarterly publication of the high hopes that the compact between Millennium Challenge Devel- Office of the Prime Minister / MCC Development opment Office and Kosovo will indeed both tackle some of the crucial Office. Opinions published may not reflect opinions of the Government of Kosovo or MCK challenges in our economy as well as collect data on Kosovo’s success to / Publisher: / Editor: Rina Meta / Design: Trekuartista / Contact: MCK, 3rd floor, fulfil critical indicators of good governance. Government building, Nena Tereze PN, Prishtina, Kosovo / email: [email protected]

We want to unleash the positive force of Kosovo people and we are thankful that Millennium Challenge Development Office and US govern- ment have put faith on this joint journey of ours. OCT/DEC 2016 | Kosovo’s Millennium Challenger 3

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli The European Commission is expected to signed Tuesday a MoU with the US compa- recommend that Kosovan citizens enjoy visa ny “Stone Alliance”. free travel within the Schengen area, even Arrival of the US company and employ- though a handful of EU member states. ment of 2500 people is very important,” Although it began talks with Brussels on said Veseli noting that this company would a liberalised visa regime in January 2012, send a clear signal to other potential for- Kosovo is the only western Balkan country eign investors to invest in Kosovo. without Schengen visa-free travel status.

to fiscal pressures and pushed the however more needs to be done to Growth Continues, deficit to about 2.5 percent of GDP. gradually shift to higher domestic FDI fell by 36 percent in the first productivity and enhanced exter- Unemployment Remains half of 2016. Most of the FDI this nal competitiveness, if Kosovo is to year continued to be attracted by close the income gap with Europe High in Kosovo... real estate, rentals, and business in the medium term. activities, followed by the finan- cial sector. The financial sector At the regional level, econom- Growth in Kosovo is projected at Fiscal adjustment measures, is performing well, with profits ic growth is expected to reach 3.6 percent in 2016, down slightly such as tax reforms and the fight high, Non-Performing Loans low, 2.7 percent in 2016, up from 2.2 from 3.9 percent in 2015, and is against informality, continued and lower interest rates that are percent in 2015. Moderate accel- forecasted to reach 3.7 percent by to boost revenue performance in boosting lending. eration of growth is projected to 2018, according to the latest South- the first half of 2016. However, continue through 2017 and 2018. east Europe Regular Economic the unanticipated large number The outlook remains positive. Report (SEERER), launched in beneficiaries of social transfers Excerpt from a report with the same name, Economic growth in Kosovo is September 24 in Brussels. program for war veterans added published at worldbank.org on 24th of supported by domestic demand September

favorite tweets ...While IMF raises Kosovo 2016 GDP growth projection to 4.1%

PRISTINA (Kosovo), October Next year, the country’s economic 4 (SeeNews) - The International growth is expected to slow down to Monetary Fund (IMF) said on 3.3%, the IMF said in the October Tuesday it has increased its 2016 edition of its World Economic economic growth forecast for Outlook. In April, the IMF forecast Kosovo to 4.1% in its latest World Kosovo’s economy would expand Economic Outlook (WEO) survey, by 4.3% in 2017. In 2021, Kosovo’s from 3.4% projected in the previous economy is expected to grow by WEO edition released in April. 4.0%, the IMF said. Healthy report of Kosovo’s banking sector

Central Bank of Kosovo has 5.3% of the total loan portfolio in issued the latest quarterly report, country’s banks. The average inter- notifying the public of improving est rates also continue to drop, now results of the banking sector in averaging around 7.2%, spurring Kosovo. Non-performing loans modest growth in private and com- continue to be among lowest in mercial crediting. The average in- the Western Balkans in the second terest rate on saving also increased quarter of the year, dropping to modestly, now averaging 1%.

“Kosovo has qualified in 2015 for the MCC Compact. “I congratulate the people of Kosovo and the coun- Now we must work hard to maintain our improved try’s leaders, and I welcome the decision to select record. We must deliver in fight against corruption. Kosovo as eligible for an MCC Compact. Today’s We must protect our economic freedoms and further exceptional achievement is another significant expand our democracy. This will enable us to bring to step forward in Kosovo’s clear progress since its Kosovo fresh investments from one of the most innova- independence in February 1998. Kosovo’s path to tive aid agencies in the world. We must help Millennium Challenge Corporation to help us. This is how we will today’s announcement was long and arguably more grow further our economy. This is how we will create difficult than any other country, making this victory new jobs. It’s important to say that American support even more impressive. Kosovo has made great for Kosovo has brought massive regional dividends for strides in advancing democracy, fighting corruption, peace and stability in the Balkans ” and solidifying the rights of its citizens.”

Petrit Selimi Rep Eliot Engel, Ranking member of the National Coordinator for the MCK Foreign Affairs Committee of US Congress 4 OCT/DEC 2016 | Kosovo’s Millennium Challenger ANALYSIS Unleashing Kosovo: what are the principle by Alban ZOGAJ Chief Economist at MCC Kosovo constrains of the local Constraints Analysis (CA) is an attempt to accomplish a comprehensive analysis of constraints that hinder the economic development of Kosovo.

It analyses a number of potential problems identified by the compact develop- ment team, jointly with key stakeholders in Kosovo (private sector, public sector economy? and civil society). An important tool used to identify the potential constraints is the comparison of Kosovo’s performance with the achievements attained by other countries, especially by those from the region. Constraints Analysis follows the growth diagnostics methodology proposed by Hausmann, Rodrik and Velasco (HRV).

The main premise for the methodology is that different countries do not nec- essarily face the same set of problems. Therefore, a successful growth strategy has to be in line with the economic environment at hand and focus on two or three main (most binding) constraints.

Consequently, the Kosovo CA aims to identify the constraints that are bind- ing to Kosovo’s economic growth, and which should be targeted in the frame- work of the MCC program and other growth policies. Overall, the analysis should provide a general answer to the question “what is stopping investments and growth?”

The compact development team, in close coordination with MCC team in Washington D.C., identified a number of constraints to be further analyzed, starting from access and cost of finance, through to access and quality of education, lack of energy, lack of water, pollution of environment, physical infrastructure, rule of law, perception regarding rule of law, and low labor participation. After analyzing in details all above mentioned constraints to growth, and comparing them to other countries in the region, the team conclud- ed that the most binding constraints to Kosovo’s economic growth are: 1. Lack of energy, 2. Rule of law and perception regarding rule of law, and 3. Environ- mental services (water, environment and health issues). In the coming part of the article I will present briefly some of the main arguments.

While perceptions may outpace reality, perceptions of chal- lenges in Kosovo are at least in part founded in reality. The Lack of Energy process of EU accession and establishing a new country has led to the development of increasingly sophisticated laws on paper, but the ability of line agencies to implement has Lack of Energy – one of the most binding constraints in Kosovo is the lagged behind. unreliable supply of energy, as evidenced by, e.g., system average inter- ruption duration and frequency indices (SAIDI and SAIFI) of 67 and 27, respectively.

Businesses in Kosovo report comparatively high losses due to outag- es, indicating they see particularly high costs due to electricity supply Rule of Law disruptions. In addition, Kosovo ranks extremely poorly on the Doing Business report’s “Reliability of supply and transparency of tariff” index, ranking 2 out of 7. Rule of Law - in a 2014 survey of potential investors, the most frequent Firms have invested a lot in circumventing the constraint. Ownership recommendation for Kosovo was “better anti-corruption” (IFC). Simi- of generators for firms is very high, and current usage of generators is larly, Kosovo consistently does worse than comparators on surveys of high. Around 14% of households spend more than a third of total family perception of rule of law (e.g. Corruption Perceptions Index). income on electricity. And yet, these measures of the perception of rule-of-law seem to Demand for energy currently surpasses the supply of energy, but there exceed the reality on the ground. On every available metric of de facto has been little movement on addressing the gap. Losses in the network crime and corruption (e.g. how often do firms pay bribes) Kosovo does are high, with 16% technical, 10% commercial, and 5% political. average or better than comparators (countries in the region). OCT/DEC 2016 | Kosovo’s Millennium Challenger 5 Environmental Unleashing Kosovo: Services

Environmental Services - Due to the convergence of factors in health, what are the principle water, and energy sections of the HRV constraints tree, the compact development team identified a constraint, named as “Environmental Services,” that captures the impact of related problems in these three sectors. Kosovo faces high levels of environmental contamination from a variety of sources, including electricity production (both through constrains of the local emissions affecting air quality and leaching of heavy metals and other contaminants into groundwater from coal mining operations), other mining and industry (which dumps lead and other heavy metals into the soil, water, and air), leaded gas vehicles, and unregulated or illegal solid economy? waste removal. Coal-fired power plant Kosovo A is the most polluting power plant in Europe. All the rivers in Kosovo are classified as polluted – with high levels of both bacteriological matter and heavy metals – and other levels of contamination are several times higher than safe limits. While access to piped water in Kosovo is high – almost 98% of households have access – there is no municipal wastewater treatment and very low access to other sanitation services, like solid waste disposal.

Kosovo has made significant policy reforms to align with EU stan- dards, but without significant investment in implementing environmen- tal legislation and regulating the variety of environmental emissions, Kosovo is unlikely to meet the requirements for EU accession.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of concrete and comparable data on health outcomes in Kosovo, in part because Kosovo is not included in WHO Global Burden of Disease statistics. While we know a fair amount about the levels of contamination present in Kosovo, there is little infor- mation about the effect of these contaminants on productivity.

Forty percent of respiratory incidents (both due to disbursed and point source emissions) that require hospital visits are from the working-age population, but without international comparison, it’s hard to know if that is a high number.

Women’s groups noted in consultations the lack of access to quality healthcare as a critical concern, in part due to gender-specific impacts on health outcomes but also due to the increased burden of care that health issues impose upon them. Photo by Jetmir Idrizi Firms have not complained about health preventing people from The drivers of the negative perception of Kosovo among external inves- working, but have complained about the cost of water and are required tors are numerous. Sources of information that could provide investors in some cases to do their own wastewater treatment, and some have with positive narrative of Kosovo are few. KIESA, the agency in charge reported digging their own wells to get around those costs. of investment promotion, has a small budget. Kosovo’s large Diaspora is an under-utilized resource for marketing the country and attracting While contamination does not seem to be affecting farmers and other investment. producers now (for instance, no one reported difficulty in meeting phy- to-sanitary requirements in exporting agricultural goods to Europe), it Consultations with private sector revealed that Kosovar firms looking is possible that without investment to stem the flow of contaminants into for international partners find it challenging to overcome the country’s the environment, this could change in the future. reputation in large part due to visa restrictions and the difficulty to travel to secure business deals. While perceptions may outpace reality, percep- Levels of contamination are clearly high, but it is difficult at this point tions of challenges in Kosovo are at least in part founded in reality. The to rule environmental/health definitely or definitely not a binding con- process of EU accession and establishing a new country has led to the straint to growth and investment. development of increasingly sophisticated laws on paper, but the ability of line agencies to implement has lagged behind. According to consultations, delays in the judiciary are especially long Following review of the binding constraints, the team will undertake an and harmful in cases regarding tax administration, customs duties, or analysis of the root causes of the binding constraints. During the Root Cause regulatory disagreement. Analysis, the teams will interview stakeholders and conduct a series of work- shops designed to clarify the underlying issues or central problems in each of The Independent Review Board, which formerly handled tax and the constraint areas. Following the initial, broad root cause analysis process, customs disputes, was reviewing nearly a thousand cases a year before the Kosovo compact development team will make decisions about a number of being closed in 2013. In contrast, the court system now manages to settle constraint areas on which to focus the further development of its proposed com- only a fraction of that number and takes longer to reach a decision. The pact program. This analytical work will culminate in a clear definition of the combination of de facto rule-of-law issues with excess perception of the central problem, the underlying root causes of that problem, and identification problems by the international business community creates a binding of further questions that need to be answered in due diligence and design – the constraint to investment and growth in Kosovo. critical components of Concept Notes. 6 OCT/DEC 2016 | Kosovo’s Millennium Challenger GOOD KOSOVO

Wineries Putting Kosovo 5 on the Map

Bridget Nurre Jennions

he fall sun glints off my Kosovo, located on the Balkan Tglass as I follow the instruc- Peninsula in Southeastern Eu- tions to examine the “legs” on this rope, has a storied wine tradition particular Cabernet Sauvignon. that dates back centuries. The Through the glass, I can see not tombstone of an Illyrian soldier only the wine’s viscosity but from 28 B.C. covered in grape also the rolling vineyards in the carvings is proudly displayed at distance and legion of wine tasters the Rahovec sufi tekke (or lodge) milling from booth to booth. Be- as evidence of the region’s historic hind me, I can hear a guitar tuning connection to the potent beverage. in preparation for the evening’s entertainment. When my gaze At its peak in 1989, Kosovo lands back on the bottle before me, boasted 9,000 hectares of vine- with Albanian script, I’m remind- yards and a major export busi- ed that I am not at a wine festival ness (40 million liters that year in Napa, but rather the 15th annu- to Germany alone). Like many al Hardh Fest in Rahovec, Kosovo. industries here, wine production suffered through the 1990s, but was revitalized by a symposium held in Rahovec in 1997 that initi- ated an annual festival to celebrate the grape harvest and the region’s wine producers.

Today, the country has some 3,000 hectares of vineyards and 15 wineries that range in size from formerly state-owned behemoths to small family wineries. Even if you are able to be in Kosovo for the September harvest festival, make sure you indulge in some of the country’s famed hospitality with a visit to these five standout wineries when you treat yourself with a visit to this unheralded corner of Europe.

the article is courtesy of PasteMagazine pastemagazine.com OCT/DEC 2016 | Kosovo’s Millennium Challenger 7

Decani Monastery Daka 3 and Velika Hoca 2 Winery Just outside of Rahovec is the the area. If you are lucky, owner Gazmend Daka’s earliest scenic Serbian village of Ve- Srdjan Petrovic will show you the memories are of his father, Gani, lika Hoca, known for having 13 license his ancestors procured to walking door to door selling grape churches for its 120 residents, and re-start wine production, after 500 brandy, or rakija. “We learned ear- as the place where the monks of years of Ottoman rule, in the early ly that you never waste a grape,” western Kosovo’s Decani Monas- 20th century. he laughs. Gazmend carried on his tery have been producing wine father’s tradition by registering since the 15th century. For the past the family winery in 2008 and 15 years, Father Marko Diklic has expanding production. Gani’s regularly made the 30-mile trek image still adorns each bottle. to tend the vineyards and ferment Sefa While the family’s production is wine for sale at the monastery still relatively small (about 35,000 and select locations in northern Wine liters per year), their wine regu- Kosovo, and Bosnia. The 5 larly finishes among the top three Sefa Wine is a new boutique monks keep it simple—making winery that has a refreshing take selected at each year’s Hardh Fest. red wine and white wine—but it on what the Kosovo terroir has to This year’s Cabernet Sauvignon offers some of the purest flavor offer. Named for their grandfather placed second and has inspired you will find in Kosovo. While the Sefa, who first started producing Gazmend to attempt to barrel-age winery doesn’t accept regular visi- wine in 1917, brothers Blerim and his wine for the first time. If you tors, neighboring Petrovic Winery Labinot Shulina launched the stop by this cozy winery (email is a great alternative if you are in winery in 2011 and have since first: tourism.rahovec@gmail. honed their craft in preparation com), be sure to try their best-sell- for export. With a production of ing Vranac: a rich, fruity grape 60,000 liters per year, the broth- native to the Balkans. ers have first set their sights on neighboring . The key to achieving premium wine quality, as winemaker Labinot will tell you, is tending to each vine by hand throughout their life cycle. The 2012 Kulla Sefa Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are testa- ment to that care.

Stone 4 Castle

The region’s other formerly state-owned winery, Stone Castle, is by far its largest, with a capacity to produce up to 30 million liters per year. Purchased in 2006 by two Albanian-American busi- nessmen, Stone Castle maintains 600 hectares of its own vineyards, but also plays a significant role in supporting the local economy by purchasing from the area’s farmers. The tasting takes place prise emblem (now used for tourist in the winery’s impressive storage Bodrumi i Vjetër intrigue, not for storing wine). vault, where you will sip a recent A pre-arranged tasting costs about vintage surrounded by massive 1 (Old Cellar) $10 to $15 depending on the number oak barrels aging 50-million liters of wines and amount of food desired. of wine and brandy. The winery’s One of the aforementioned behe- hijaha family in 2006, who have since Make sure to try the award-winning grizzled yet charming winemaker moths, the aptly named Bodrumi i painstakingly restored its original 2014 Elephant Chardonnay, which will single out the ladies in your Vjetër (Albanian for “old cellar”) is stone structure. Though the building comes with a light, crisp flavor and group to taste the refreshing Rosé, the country’s oldest functioning wine is now lined with stainless steel tanks, a great story: the Elephant line is but don’t leave without tasting cellar. Established by the Yugoslav a tour deeper into the cellar reveals named after a Bronze Age elephant Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, government in 1953, the winery was some of the wooden barrels still figurine unearthed during the cellar’s arguably Kosovo’s best wine. privatized and sold to the local Hax- displaying their 1958 socialist enter- construction in 1950. we Millenniumonly have 3 questions Challenge for Kosovo Team 1. What did you do before joining the MCK? 2. What is the biggest challenge you think Kosovo’s economy faces? 3. What are you reading right now?

issues and human rights in gen- enhance the utilisation of its ish Council and Kosovo Foreign eral and more specifically on capital, natural resources and Ministry on public and cultural women’s rights. My experience labor force, by increasing em- diplomacy projects, including in human rights was gained ployment rates which is still at several big communication working in the Ombudsperson a very low rate. campaigns. office and this was furthered in the EULEX mission in Kosovo, The latest book I am read- where I have been working as What is the biggest chal- a Gender Advisor. As part of 3ing is “Economics Rules: the rights and wrongs of the dis- 2lenge you think Kosovo’s my extensive work in the area mal science” written by a well- economy faces? of gender equality and human known economist Dani Rodrik. My family has a business in the rights, I have provided expert SME-sector and I worked in me- advice on many occasions to dia and private communication Petrit Selimi the organizations in which I Burim Hashani companies, so I had extensive National Coordinator have worked, and also to the Energy Sector Specialist interaction with unhappy em- Kosovo institutions. ployers, facing lack of skills for I served as country’s acting I had just completed a Msc the labor force, complaining of 1foreign minister and depu- 1degree in Energy and Envi- infrastructure and energy re- ty foreign minister for over 6 The biggest Kosovo chal- ronment, when I started work- liability. They also complain of years. I was an active member 2lenge in economic develop- ing as a technical and business lack of financing and high inter- of civil society and served on ment is how to transform its advisor for the Government of est rates in the banks. So I think boards of several independent advantages of human resourc- these are some of the biggest media oitlets and philantro- Kosovo in managing the Elec- es and natural resources into a tricity Distribution and Supply constrains: access to finance, pies. I also worked as a con- sustainable development. The sultant and actor in private Company privatization process. energy, education. sector development and in- deficiencies of the rule of law Following project completion, I vestment promotion, advising and the high rate of unemploy- was responsible for managing even NASDAQ-listed compa- ment, especially among women Edona Kurtolli Alija the post privatization phase I’m enjoying Agents of Em- nies on opportunities in Koso- and youth are some of the bar- Private Sector Development where we successfully achieved 3pire from Noel Malcolm who vo. Bit of politics, bit of public riers which hamper Kosovo’s Specialist uses his curiosity for Antonio relations and bit of passion a smooth transition from economic development. public to private ownership, Bruni, a particular character for civil engagement and cul- With over 10 years of inter- while overseeing transforma- from the old Ulcinj of today’s ture. That would be in short. national work experience, 1 tional investments in the elec- , to illuminate the I have worked for private and I am currently reading tricity sector. entire 16th century. Our Achiles heel is youth 3“Women, work and the will donor funded projects mostly 2unemployment. We are to lead “- a book from Sheryl in private sector development. lucky that we have a young Sandberg. In Kosovo I have worked for I believe that the biggest population and a demograph- Swiss government funded challenges Kosovo’s econo- ic dividend. We had relatively projects at Swisscontact, Riin- 2 high growthif you remember my faces are related to having vest Institute, UNDP and oth- infrastructural reforms which that our country was borne just er organizations. I have also months before collapse of Leh- would result in securing 24/7 man Brothers. But growth and worked in New York City at access to electricity and water, noticeable development have startup tech companies, and I reducing the levels of informal not spurred youth employment. call NYC my home. I have also economy and ensuring just Populism, nationalism and oth- worked in Paris with Alca- governance and rule of law er dangerous isms plaguing the tel-Lucent. I have an MBA de- which would directly impact world, hence employment is of gree from the Ecole Superieure critical importance. investors’ confidence in the Libre des Sciences Commer- country. ciales Appliquees ESLSCA in Kastriot Orana Usually read several books Paris, France, and a BA from Executive Office Manager 3in parallel. I am currently Schiller International Univer- I am currently reading the half-way into the latest novel Alban Zogaj sity. I also lecture at Riinvest 32013 mystery thriller novel I worked as an assistant to by Dave Eggers “Heroes of the Chief Economist College and Staffordshire Uni- “Inferno” written by American the Deputy Foreign Minis- Frontier”. I am also binge-read- 1 versity studies in Kosovo. author Dan Brown. ter and later became Chief of ing the “Injustice: Gods among I have joined Riinvest Institute Staff of the Foreign Minister. It us”, a comic strip series that I 1as a researcher in 2005, later was fascinating experience and recently discovered where the promoted to a senior research- I believe the most challeng- helped me understand multilat- superheroes are at odds with er and research director. I have eral interaction as now I am the each other. ing parts of the job will also earned my Bachelor Degree in 2 office manager for the Millenni- Yet, lets be honest, the time we be the most thrilling part. The Economics from the University um Challenge Kosovo. have to read is mostly used on of Prishtina, continuing with first few weeks will probably following US elections from ev- Master studies in Economics involve lots of reading, listen ery angle and each corner. for Business Analysis at Staf- and each task needs to be ap- fordshire University, UK. I have High interest rates and con- proached correctly. One of the servative lending with banks recently completed my PhD in hard aspects will probably be 2 Economics at Universita Poli- is one problem. Colateral is too technica delle Marche, Italy. I achieving clarity of business high and banks are too prof- was engaged as a project man- tobjectives, scope, and com- itable. I also think we need to ager in various projects and municating the same message somehow create more jobs in policy analysis at the Riinvest to stakeholders. As a US citi- the private sector and bring Institute. Since 2007, I am also zen, it is a very special feeling, Rina Meta more FDI to create these jobs. engaged as a lecturer of Eco- and a great honor to be work- Outreach Specialist I studied in University of Prishtina nomics at Riinvest College and ing at MCK, and as a Kosovar, I and I was a member of Kosovo’s Staffordshire University pro- am proud to say that Kosovo is Started writing and publish- national team in table tennis. I quit grams in Prishtina. now part of such an important 1ing when I was 17. Continued the professional career due to knee venture. writing and medially covering injury but I’m still active by helping culture since then. I’ve studied Kosovo’s Table Tennis Association To my opinion, one of the with international relations. Violeta Rexha 2biggest challenges Kosovo’s Mass Communication and later Gender Expert and economy faces is becoming I frequently re-reading parts Product Design in Kosovo, Italy Social Inclusion more competitive, in region- 3of “The Republic” of Plato, and Thailand. I worked for the “Power of Habit” by Charles al and global terms. To meet and I started reading “The regional New Moment Advertis- 3Duhigg. I think Kosovo can I am gender expert with di- the challenge of enhancing things they carried’ by Tim ing Agency, a great opportunity also change a lot if we manage 1ploma from the Law Faculty competitiveness, our economy O’Brian. I am a big fan of to experience and understand to change some old patterns of in , and a vast experi- must use more resources and in classics and frequently re-read regional mindsets. Recently I thinking and some damaging ence in working with gender better ways. Therefore, it must parts of books. worked as a consultant for Brit- habits.