Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said the trade deficit continues to remain one of the main challenges of the country’s economy, suggesting that during 2025 Kosovo has imported goods worth seven billion euros, while exporting about one billion euros.
These comments, Kurti made at the signing ceremony of the co-operation agreement for the development of Kosovo’s Eco- Industrial Parks, reports Online Economy.
He has said that despite increased exports during 2026, the trade gap continues to be huge.
Despite the economic growth we have noted, we have to recognize that the trade deficit remains one of the main challenges of our economy. During 2025, Kosovo imported goods worth seven billion euros, while exporting about one billion euros. Even in 2026, despite export growth, the trade gap is continuing to be huge, Kurti has declared.
He has said the development of eco-industrial parks is in line with the Government’s strategic orientation of a circuit and competitive economy.
The first pillar of our government programme is dedicated to the circuit and competitive economy. Therefore, the project’s initiative to develop eco-industrial parks is in full line with our strategic orientation and is directly related to how our Republic’s industry and economy will develop in the years ahead, Kurti has said.
The head of government has also cited economic growth in recent years, stressing that over 85 thousand new jobs have been created during this period, while service exports have nearly tripled.
Over the past few years, Kosovo’s economy has marked significant growth. Bruto Product has grown approximately an average of one billion euros a year, while it took three years earlier for such growth. In the same period, over the past five years, over 85 thousand new jobs have been created. The exports of services have nearly tripled, while foreign direct investments have for the first time exceeded the value of one billion euros.
And we want as many goods as we buy from outside today to be produced in Kosovo. Therefore, we view industrial parks as one of the mechanisms that can help achieve that purpose. They offer local businesses the space and infrastructure needed to expand production capacities, while creating more attractive conditions for foreign investors who want to shift part of their production activity to our country, Kurti has declared.
He has stressed that investments in industrial parks aim to bring not only capital, but also new jobs, technology and knowledge, assessing that diaspora can play an important role in the process.
For us it is important that such investments bring not only capital but also new jobs, technology, knowledge and opportunities for co-operation with local suppliers. In attracting these investments, our diaspora has a special role. In Germany, Switzerland, France, the United States and other countries, we have many entrepreneurs originally from Kosovo who have built successful businesses and can become the bridge between our economy and international markets. They can bring to Kosovo not only their capital and experience but also their business partners and co-operation networks.
Kosovo has some priorities for such investments. Its geographical position, proximity to the European Union market, qualified workforce and competitive fiscal policy create good conditions for the development of production activity. With the growth of local production, we can replace some of the goods that we today import and export our products made in Kosovo, he has declared.
Kurti has announced that in co-operation with the private sector and local producers, the Euro Billard Plan for Production and Industry has also been drafted.
In this spirit, in ongoing dialogue with the private sector and local producers, we have drafted the Euro Billard Plan for Production and Industry. This plan, drafted in dialogue with businesses and based on their needs, aims to facilitate investment financing in new production capacities and expanding economic activity. Along with the development of eco-industrial parks, the plan is expected to create better conditions for investment, increased local production and job creation.
In addition to creating conditions for investment and expansion of production, special importance exists in the way this product develops. In this direction, eco-industrial parks provide opportunities for a more modern and efficient industry, with better resource use and less environmental impact. They complement our efforts to boost the use of renewable energy and prepare businesses for increasingly high European market demands.
Developing industrial parks will extend to all regions of Kosovo, without exception, including two parks in the northern part of the country. After the establishment of order and law in this part of Kosovo, we are gradually shifting attention towards economic development, job creation and improvement of the welfare of citizens living there, Kurti has said.
Source Layer: Dukeagini