EBRD launches new country strategy for Kosovo

Head of EBRD in Kosovo presents new strategy to government Focus on private sector, green transition and more efficient infrastructure building 2021 investment of €50 million brings total EBRD commitments to €583m

The Government of Kosovo has welcomed the approval of the new EBRD Country Strategy for Kosovo. The strategy was discussed at the meeting between EBRD Head of Kosovo, Neil Taylor, and Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murat, who represents Kosovo on the EBRD’s Board of Governors, on Wednesday 9 February. Neil Taylor also informed Minister Murati that the Bank invested EUR 50 million in Kosovo in 2021.

EBRD Country Strategy for Kosovo in English, Albanian and Serbian

On this occasion, Minister Murati praised the cooperation with the EBRD, as a strong partner for achieving the Government's objectives towards developing and strengthening the performance of the private sector in Kosovo, supporting the transition to clean energy, improving the environment and infrastructure development. The new Strategy’s priorities are the development of the private sector, transition to the green economy and strengthened regional integration and connectivity.

Neil Taylor, EBRD Head of Kosovo, said: “Our new country strategy marks a new era of engagement for the EBRD in Kosovo. We share the same priorities as the government to create more opportunities in the private sector for all citizens, to weather the current energy crisis and move forward with green transition, and to speed up infrastructure projects such as the railway and wastewater treatment”.

The EBRD not only provides financing for Kosovo, but engages in policy and legal reform in areas such as energy transition, reforms of publicly owned enterprises and higher standards of corporate governance. The Bank also provides business advice for over 60 SMEs in Kosovo each year together with increasing access to knowhow in areas such as digitalisation. In August 2021, the municipality of Pristina adopted a Green City Action Plan, developed under the EBRD Green Cities programme.

The EBRD country strategy for 2022-27, adopted by its Board of Directors on 26 January 2022, is the third Kosovo country strategy to date. Although the EBRD has been active in Kosovo since 1999, Kosovo only became a shareholder and a full country of operations in 2012. A resident office was opened in Pristina and the Bank’s investment has grown considerably, surpassing half a billion euro mark in 2020 and reaching €583 million to date.

The EBRD also works to enhance regional and international economic integration of Kosovo and other countries in the Western Balkans. Cross-border links will be a focus of the biannual Western Balkans Investment Forum on 28 February 2022. The interactive discussion between the EBRD President and the Prime Ministers of the six countries will be broadcast live on the internet; connection details will be published on ebrd.com a week in advance.