U.S. Charge d’Affaires Kelly Degnan addressed a conference in Pristina this week (March 20) on the importance of local government in investment and promotion and retention of businesses. The purpose of the conference, sponsored by USAID, the Ministry of Local Government Administration and the Investment Agency of Kosovo, was to establish closer coordination among the national government, agencies and local government in attracting investors. The Charge’ told the participants that all levels of government will have to work together to address the challenges to economic growth in Kosovo.
A hospitality industry association supported by USAID is now functioning independently and has emerged as a major promoter of Kosovo as a tourist destination. The Kosovo Alternative Tourism Association (KATA) was founded in 2010 by a small group of hotel and travel agency owners as an alternative to the country’s national tourism association. USAID through its Kosovo Private Enterprise program assisted the nascent organization by sending the group to neighboring countries to learn more about best practices in alternative tourism.
On a day dedicated to women everywhere, approximately 50 of Kosovo’s most accomplished women entrepreneurs gathered to share stories of their successes, as well as the challenges they still face.
The March 8 International Women’s Day networking event highlighted the significant contributions women have made in the development of Kosovo’s economy, including in the arts, agriculture, education, and manufacturing.
On March 1, 2013, the Innovation Center Kosovo (ICK) recognized six startup companies for their innovative ideas in businesses. The awardees include an internet service provider, a developer of educational software for kids, and a developer of videogames for the Facebook, iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms.
Children of all ethnicities in Kosovo joined in Prizren on February 21 to celebrate International Mother Language. The children participated in a bookmaking workshop organized under the auspices of USAID's Basic Education Program. Six different native languages were represented.
The bookmaking activity aimed to promote creativity and an enhanced interest in literacy among primary school children by demonstrating a number of bookbinding techniques, including “pop-up” books. Students created books and filled them with their own illustrations and text in their native tongues.
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