In a significant diplomatic and economic milestone, Kosovo has participated for the first time as a partner country at the prestigious international conference “Future Industry Minds 2026” held in Cologne, Germany.
In an interview with RTK from Bensberg Castle, Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti emphasized that this co-organization serves as a key platform to connect Kosovar businesses with German counterparts and to expand Kosovo’s presence in the European market.
Focus on Economic Development and Exports
Kurti highlighted that Kosovo enters this forum backed by a solid economic foundation, citing current growth statistics:
- Economic Growth: Approximately 4%.
- Positive Trends: Steady increases in business turnover, exports, and foreign direct investment.
- Objective: Establishing new contacts to enable further expansion of “Made in Kosovo” products within the German market.
The Diaspora as a Strategic Bridge
During his visit to Düsseldorf and meeting with the Prime Minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Kurti reaffirmed that the Kosovar diaspora remains a primary asset for economic diplomacy.
“We discussed how the Kosovo diaspora can be utilized even more… to create even broader bridges of cooperation between our two countries,” Kurti stated, focusing on both economic and cultural ties.
Vision for the Next Mandate: Strategic Investments
The Acting Prime Minister unveiled an ambitious list of projects that will be at the center of the next government’s agenda, aiming for a total industrial transformation of the country:
- Energy: A focus on mining and the gasification of lignite.
- Infrastructure: Modernizing the railway network and constructing new dams.
- Sports and Tourism: Significant investments in stadiums and the Brezovica tourist resort.
- Defense: For the first time, Kurti announced a “surge in the military industry,” signaling Kosovo’s intent to produce military equipment or components domestically.
Summary of Priority Sectors
| Sector | Key Projects |
| Industry | Lignite gasification and domestic military industry. |
| Transport | Railway network modernization and regional connectivity. |
| Resources | Mining and water management (dams). |
| Partnership | Close cooperation with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. |
Kosovo’s partnership at “Future Industry Minds 2026” is viewed as a concrete step toward deeper integration of the Kosovar economy into German industrial value chains, leveraging the potential of both its youth and its vast diaspora.
