Stavileci: Kosovo has the potential to become an ICT services exporter

Prishtina, 03 November – Kosovo is working on a national strategy to make ICT and Innovations one of its main priorities for economic development, based on the fact that it has the youngest population in Europe and an internet utilization rate of 83% in households, said the Minister of Economic Development Blerand Stavileci.

Stavileci made these comments in the first day of the “2015 Web Summit” held in Dublin, Ireland, which is thought to be the largest of its kind globally in the sphere of technology, and for the first time attended by a representative of the Government of Republic of Kosovo as a panel member, in the discussion of latest developments in the technology sector and their impact on global economy.

Speaking in front of the audience in the panel “Technology, economy and primary global problems,” Stavileci said that ICT and Innovation Strategy aims to emphasize Kosovo’s competitive advantages and provision of conditions for making Kosovo a center of export of ICT services. Stipulations in this strategy attracted support by Kosovo’s largest donors, including the World Bank, which now support us in attaining objectives set in the Strategy.

“Ministry of Economic Development has now taken concrete steps towards ensuring that the country’s competitive advantages will be appropriately used to ensure sustainable development, and to this end MED will soon launch its first ICT fund, destined to support youth entrepreneurship and growth of ICT companies,” he said, adding that the fund is thought to function on the basis of public-private partnership models.

The Head of MED clarified that in the last 15 years, Kosovo established close connections with the international community, which provided its citizens with an opportunity to increase their capacities and obtain the experience needed to focus on the export of ICT services.

Minister Stavileci used the presence in this panel to invite all ICT stakeholders present in the summit to visit Kosovo and get acquainted with the opportunities it provides, ensuring them that they will enjoy institutional support and quality services provided at very low cost.

In the margins of the “Web Summit” Stavileci held meetings with representatives of different companies active in the sphere of information technology and innovation, with which he discussed on investment opportunities in Kosovo.

Of note, the “Web Summit” is the largest gathering of its kind in the world ant attended by around 30 thousand participants from 100 countries, with 700 speakers and 150 accredited journalists.

Part of the summit are also the largest companies in the sphere of information technology, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Facebook, Twitter, Intel, Cisco, Samsung and other renowned global producers and media outlets.