During his visit to New York, Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, was warmly received by representatives and members of the Albanian Professionals and Entrepreneurs Network (APEN).
In a discussion with the network, PM Kurti expressed his appreciation for APEN’s work in creating platforms that connect Albanian professionals and foster collaboration. He stated:
“We are gathered here today not only as professionals, but as proud Albanians, united by a shared heritage and commitment to building bridges between our homeland and the diaspora community.”
Kurti highlighted the diaspora’s vital contributions in business, technology, medicine, academia, and the arts, noting that their achievements demonstrate how the Albanian community abroad is a driving force for innovation, growth, and progress on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Prime Minister also discussed his government’s vision for engaging the diaspora, emphasizing initiatives that connect young professionals with Kosovo’s public sector. Through the Citizen Diplomacy Scholarship, diaspora professionals gain the opportunity to contribute their expertise and shape Kosovo’s future.
Kurti additionally presented the Diaspora Investment Window, part of the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund, describing these initiatives as bridges across generations and professions, linking Kosovo with the United States. He concluded:
“By working alongside our diaspora, we can achieve much as a unified community, investing in each other’s success and that of future generations.”
APEN, founded in 2007 by young Albanian-Americans in New York, aims to unite professionals and advance the Albanian-American community. The event was also attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Liza Gashi, and Kosovo Consul General in New York, Blerim Reka.
