PRISHTINA, February 29, 2016 – World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller completed
today his first visit to Kosovo, which focused on learning first-hand
about Kosovo’s growth opportunities and development challenges. He
participated in the discussions related to the Systematic Country
Diagnostic for Kosovo, and the recently adopted National Development
Strategy for the period 2016-2021.
“The World Bank Group is committed to continue helping Kosovo
maintain macroeconomic stability, improve infrastructure networks and
business environment, improve stewardship of its natural resources, and
build human capital, with the aim of achieving its long term goal of
European Union accession and building a prosperous country," said Cyril Muller.
During his visit, Muller met with the Prime Minister of the Republic
of Kosovo Isa Mustafa, with other Government Ministers, and with
diplomats and development partners. He also visited the Kosovo A power
plant and associated mines, in order to understand the technical,
environmental and social challenges in overcoming Kosovo’s energy supply
gap.
“Support to address Kosovo's energy shortages is one element of
the World Bank's broader strategy to support economic development, as
well as improve competitiveness and environmental management," said Muller.
"In working on energy, it is very important for Kosovo's own policies
to adhere to the best environmental and social practices,” he added.
The World Bank’s current program in Kosovo is anchored...
in the Country
Partnership Strategy 2012–16, which, in support of Kosovo’s EU
integration objective, helps the country to accelerate broad-based
economic growth and employment generation, and improve environmental
management. Today, the World Bank active lending portfolio amounts to
US$131 million of Interional Development Association (IDA) credits
across eight projects in the areas of energy, education, public sector
reform, cadaster, agriculture, health, and financial sector. The
committed investment portfolio in Kosovo of the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is US$15.7 million.
Since 1999, the World Bank has provided and/or managed roughly US$400
million through more than 30 operations in Kosovo, including
grant-financed trust funds. IFC's cumulative investments in Kosovo total
US$390 million, which includes funds mobilized from IFC’s partners.
