The U.S. Department of Commerce is working to assist Kosovo in the field of renewable energy as the country embarks on efforts to diversify its electricity sources, which have been mainly derived from coal, while also seeking alternative forms of energy storage and production.
Justyna Swica, a specialist in international trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, told Voice of America that the department recently invited representatives from Kosovo’s public and private sectors to connect with U.S. companies to explore potential investments in clean energy production in Kosovo.
Swica explained that the U.S. Department of Commerce hosted an official delegation from Kosovo for a program focused on renewable energy cooperation and Kosovo’s transition to clean energy production.
Justyna Swica: The SABIT program is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and has a nearly 35-year tradition. Its main goal is to bring mid- and senior-level officials to the U.S. for two weeks to meet with colleagues from relevant sectors in government, associations, and the private sector. Through these meetings, they create valuable connections and learn best practices in the industry. Recently, we hosted a delegation from Kosovo focused on clean energy.
Is the goal to create links between American investors and Kosovo?
Justyna Swica: Absolutely. Our programs are funded by the State Department, but our office is part of the Department of Commerce, which means our focus is on trade. The Department of Commerce has had a long-standing commitment to renewable energy issues in Kosovo, and this program further strengthens these goals. Kosovo has recently passed several laws favorable to renewable energy, which we hope will enable U.S. companies to introduce their technologies and services to the Kosovo market.
Has this happened during the visit?
Justyna Swica: Yes, in fact, most of the meetings were with companies in the private sector. The first visit took us to California, where they participated in RE+, the largest clean energy production event in North America. They had the opportunity to attend technical sessions, meet over 1,300 companies, and attend a conference with more than 40,000 participants. It was a great opportunity for networking. As part of the program, they also visited a wind turbine-based energy farm and met with municipal authorities to learn how cities manage renewable energy programs. A large part of the visit focused on meetings with energy, engineering, and consulting companies to understand how things work in the U.S. and to meet with individuals and companies interested in forming partnerships and investing in Kosovo.
Is Kosovo’s market and sector attractive to U.S. investors?
Justyna Swica: Absolutely. We saw this especially during the visit to Iowa, where you are aware of the special relationship Iowa has with Kosovo. The delegation was well-received, and we saw great interest from many American companies there in working with and partnering with the Kosovar participants. They saw significant collaboration opportunities that wouldn’t have materialized without this visit.
One of the largest investments in Kosovo’s energy sector toward clean energy is the battery storage system. Was this discussed during the meetings with U.S. companies and the Department of Commerce?
Justyna Swica: Yes, this is a very current issue. Since we began our clean energy-focused programs in 2022, and so far we’ve held seven such programs in different geographic areas, this has been a significant topic. The same was true with the delegation from Kosovo. All the technical sessions in California focused on battery storage, and participants in our program were engaged in seeking meetings with them.
