Category Archives: Resources for Diaspora

Diaspora Engagement for the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) – Prizren

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On November 2nd, 2020, GERMIN and ITP signed a contract to attract diaspora engagement in the private sector, vocational education, and research and innovation in the Innovation and Training Park – Prizren.

Kosovo, a growing economy with steady development, a young labor force, and a stable monetary policy is a potential destination for many investors, entrepreneurs, and business communities. Many argue that its key asset aboard is its diverse diasporic community that is rich in terms of financial resources, entrepreneurship skills, and know-how; diaspora is the best entry point to foreign markets and a huge investment power group inside Kosovo. Therefore, through this collaboration, our goal is to reach out to diaspora communities as potential future investors in ITP, which provides a complete infrastructure and safe environment to serve Kosovo’s development efforts and offer/enable Kosovo Diaspora to play an active role as a developmental agent of the home country.

The multifunctional park has been officially opened for tenants in May 2020, and is now open for interested national and international businesses to become part of the Park. ITP aims to attract diaspora engagement in the private sector, vocational education and training institutions, as well as research and innovation activities. Beyond the real estate structure offered, the park offers business services and a secure and stable investment environment with German management that looks after the tenants.  The main areas of focus for the park are the following sectors: 

  1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) / Technology-based firms; 
  2. Agro / Food Processing; and 
  3. Creative and Cultural Industries (including tourism). 

Moreover, to support these three above-mentioned sectors and to increase synergy effects among them, there will be two cross-cutting topics that have been identified and will be pursued within ITP:

  1. Vocational Education and Training (VET); and 
  2. Research & Development (R&D).

In the upcoming months’ we will promote the Innovation and Training Park (ITP) Prizren among diaspora businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs living in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. 


Stay tuned for more information, and let us know if you want to be part of the upcoming events in the three above-mentioned countries in 2021, please send us an email at [email protected]

DokuFest offers an exclusive package for Diaspora

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In its 19th edition, DokuFest is rolling out for the first time in an online format due to COVID-19. However, despite all challenges, the festival is being successfully organized virtually under the theme “Transmitting”. Same as in previous years, DokuFest has thought about the Albanian diaspora.

“Knowing that a large number of migrants could not come to Kosovo due to the pandemic and given that this year the festival will not be held physically, the organizers in cooperation with the directors of Albanian films have enabled all emigrants access to the online platform of DokuFest”, said Mr. Eroll Bilibani, one of the team, in an interview for “Albinfo”, a diaspora-based media outlet. Although virtually, our festival has created special programs which will be accessible only to our diaspora “, adds Mr. Bilibani for albinfo.ch.

A competition section with shorts and documentaries made by Albanian filmmakers from around the world, most of them premiering at DokuFest, will be exclusively available for Diaspora in Germany & Switzerland from 7-15 August. Diaspora Package can be accessed via this link, while all other packages and films are accessible at online.dokufest.com.

Germin is hosting its first international conference, Diaspora Flet, in Kosovo. The four-day event will bring together lawmakers, government officials and a diverse group of Diaspora members — professionals, scholars, community leaders, business representatives, and other interest groups – to address the advancement of the role of Diaspora in the economic, social, and political developments of their country of origin.

Register for the Conference HERE | Download the Program HERE | Check the website HERE

Vienna Focus Group comlpeted successfully

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Virtual Registration of Diaspora initiative has successfully completed the discussion forum. Held at the premises of the Kosovar Embassy in Vienna, the event gathered representatives of the departments of Kosovo, specifically the Ministry of the Diaspora, representatives of various Albanian organizations in Austria and numerous members from the civil society. The forum once again highlighted the importance of meeting directly with citizens and exchange of information with related institutions.2

The discussion form brought together participants from Kosovo,Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania. A question and answer session with the  Secretary of the Ministry of Diaspora, Mentor Borovci, Director of Media Department of the Ministry of Diaspora Mr. Lorik Pustina and the Consul of Kosovo in Austria, Mr. Imer Ladrovci.1

Among many question, a rather important one was raised by Mr. Abdullah Abdullahi from Prizren, who asked whether Albanians who have Austrian citizenship have the right to register and proposed that the registration process intensify during the summer months. Representatives of the Ministry of Diaspora explained that this registration will not cause legal trouble to anyone and does not create any legal complication with dual citizenship, thus it encourages diaspora community members of every legal standing to register.

Mr. Hamez Morina from the ESIKS organizations in Vienna is seeking to promote the Diaspora Registration by ease of access to public services or  reward based program. Another efficient method highlighted by Mr. Morina has been contacting members of the diaspora previously engaged in projects such as “Brain Gain”.

The discussion form has been characterized also by numerous questions regarding Albanians from Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.  Mr. Sabri Osmani from the city of Ulqin demanded that the registry is more inclusive, alongside Mr. Osmani, a number of people demanded that the Kosovar embassy contact the Macedonian and Montenegrin counterparts in order to expand the reach of the registry.3

Diaspora Minster Murati visits Kosovo’s Cultural Center in Istanbul

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Kosovo’s Cultural Center in Istanbul hosted  Minister of Diaspora, Valon Murati, for a meeting with the Albanian associations in Turkey. Minister Murati spoke of Kosovo’s progress and Government’s ties with its Diaspora.  Furthermore, the meeting consisted of talks over the Ministry’s programs and future involvements, learning of the Albanian language, cultural activities, providing support for investment, as well as the Diaspora registration process.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Rahim Morina, Consul General of the Republic of Kosovo in Istanbul; Agron Tare, Consul General of the Republic of Albania in Istanbul; Mentor Borovci, General Secretary of the MOD, and Qamil Bytyqi, Acting Director of Kosovo’s Cultural Centre in Istanbul.

HERE you can read the full article on this activity published in Albanian by Ministry of Diaspora.

Diaspora Business Network to Reach Australia

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Strengthening the diaspora community through its businesses is a set priority for the Kosovar Diaspora Ministry. Recently, the Ministry of Diaspora and the Union of Diaspora Global Businesses have held fruitful meetings with the business community in Australia. With key figures such as Mr. Naim Dedushaj, the meetings have resulted with the creation of the Australian Central Branch, located in Melbourne, where the largest Albanian community is located.

Kosovo’s Ambassador Mr. Sabri Kiçmari spoke on the importance of establishing such business networks in Australia, inviting all Albanian businessmen to join. Mr. Naim Dedushaj also spoke of the importance and benefits of this network. At the end of the meeting, he emphasized the goals achieved by the already established networks of diaspora businesses throughout the 16 countries.

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If you are a Diaspora member from Australia, we invite you to support the Diaspora Registry process*. If you would like to register, please click HERE.

*The Diaspora Registry process is developed by the Ministry of Diaspora with the aim of strengthening Diaspora’s ties and participation in policy development processes in Kosovo. The Kosovodiaspora.org platform has partnered with the MoD and Diaspora Engagement for Economic Development (DEED) to promote the registry among our widespread diaspora communities across five continents.