Austrian Investors Day in Kosovo

Prishtina, 13 June 2007 – Within the fact finding mission of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce to Kosovo, the Economic Initiative for Kosova – ECIKS and the Investment Promotion Agency of Kosovo – IPAK have organized the Austrian Investors Day in Kosovo on 12 June 2007.

The event was attended by representatives of 26 Austrian companies, most of them clients of the IPAK/ECIKS Office in Vienna. Officials of Kosovar Institutions and organizations, including the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Bujar Dugolli, The President of Kosovar Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Besim Beqaj, the Executive Director of IPAK, Mr. Ejup Fejza, Head of IPAK Vienna Office (ECIKS), Mr. Kujtim Dobruna and the Director of Kosovo Trust Agency, Mr. Ahmet Shala, thoroughly informed potential Austrian investors about business environment and investment opportunities in Kosovo. In addition, ECIKS has organized a range of B2B meetings between Austrian companies and potential Kosovar partners.

According to the feedback from attending Austrian companies, the complete fact finding mission was very helpful while impressions from Kosovo very good. Dr. Walter Koren, Director-General of the Austrian Trade and Federal Economic Chamber, said that Kosovo has established a very good legal framework and that Kosovo has young, talented and professional human capital. There is perhaps a lack of capital and technology, but there are also many Austrian companies interested to invest in Kosovo, concluded Dr. Koren.

Within the mission, representatives of Austrian companies have also visited successful examples of foreign investments in Kosovo, such as Ferronikeli (a nickel producing plant) and a quarry purchased by the Austrian STRABAG in the region of Drenas.

The IPAK Office in Vienna, a project implemented by ECIKS and financed by Austrian Development Agency, offers a range of free-of-charge services to all Austrian companies interested for Kosovo. With its office in Vienna, Kosovo offers to potential investors the most direct and high quality services that any other country in the region.

ECIKS