Diaspora Investment Window Launched
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo, namely the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers, and the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund, in cooperation with USAID, have today signed the tripartite agreement for the launch of the new guarantee scheme, “The Window for Diaspora Investments”.
This initiative aims to attract investments from the diaspora and facilitate access to finance for diaspora businesses that are ready to invest in Kosovo. In his opening speech of this meeting, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murati said that the Diaspora Investment Window will enable the increase of investments from compatriots.
Minister Murati mentioned that through this window, a fund of around 100 million euros is available for lending to diaspora businesses. Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that the Diaspora Investment Window enables diaspora investors to return and invest in Kosovo, transforming them from passive investors who invest in financial instruments and indirectly support the development of the country, to active investors who invest directly in the development and creation of new jobs.
The United States Ambassador to America, Mr. Jeffrey Hovenier, for his part, emphasized that “The American government is proud to have helped establish this new program, through the financial and technical support of USAID, because we understand the possibility of rarely that businesses from the diaspora present. We see that when entrepreneurs from the diaspora return to the country, they bring the best of the world to Kosovo”.
Mr. Berisha, Managing Director of KCGF emphasized: ” Since its establishment in 2016, the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund continues to remain loyal to its mission, which is to facilitate access to finance, as a determining factor in the growth and prosperity of micro, small and medium enterprises. This is also shown by today’s initiative to launch the newest guarantee scheme, Diaspora Investment Window”.
It is worth noting that the basic funds for the guarantee scheme, in the amount of 10 million euros, were provided by the Government of Kosovo (8 million euros) and the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund (2 million euros). Also, USAID through the project “Investment Promotion and Access to Finance” will implement a broad promotional campaign and will offer grants to qualified businesses, which are financed through the Diaspora Investment Window.
