The deputy of the vice-minister Ivan Jančárek delivered the opening speech at the seminar moderated by Mr. Lukas Martin - director of International Relations of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. In his speech, he stressed the main goal of the seminar, which was the promotion of the Czech-Kosovo trade relations. He further underlined the perspective of the potential of Kosovo, its young population, the stabilized market and the outlook of the EU membership. Mr. Jančárek pointed out the need to support the economic development of Kosovo which could help to solve one of the causes of migration of the Kosovar citizens to the EU countries. The Czech firms were shown the way towards the Kosovo market at the seminar.

Mayor Mimoza Kusari-Lila introduced the Gjakova region as a promising area for business, which has a young and relatively educated population at the level of high school education and which also has high unemployment and low labor costs. She also reported on the economic centers and priorities in the field of energy, which include renewables such as wind, solar energy and biomass. Furthermore, she also reported on improving of efficiency in the use of electric power, eco-tourism projects and the upcoming projects in the areas of transport infrastructure, public transport and water management sectors, in which the Czech firms could participate.

Mr. Libor Chlad, expert of the EU Office in Pristina, described the structure of the IPA II for Kosovo in the planning period 2014-2020. Then he also described the financial instruments and priorities in the areas of transport and energy which are regarded by the EU as key sectors for economic development of the country.

Mr. Alban Hashani, Research Director of Pristina Institute Riinvest, informed the Czech participants about the macroeconomic situation in Kosovo, the financial sector, taxation system, tax-free economic zones and about the Business and Technology Parks in the municipality of Drenas, Mitrovica and Shtime. He stressed the promising investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, energy (power plants Kosovo A and B and the construction of the Kosovo New power plant), mining and telecommunications sectors.

Ambassador Mr. Ivo Šilhavý introduced Kosovo as a dynamically developing country, where the Czech firms can take up promoting the good name of the Czech experts, respectively former Czechoslovak companies. At present, Kosovo offers numerous business opportunities which need to be taken. Establishing a long-term partnership and cooperation with Kosovo partners is crucial for the success of the Czech companies. This enables them to have a chance to reside in a significant market in the sectors of energy, transport, water management and other sectors. Development cooperation projects have proved to be the optimal platform for the establishment of the strategic long-term partnership between Kosovo and Czech companies.

The introduction of the cooperation between Czech companies Ircon and TopolWater with the Kosovar Company Project Plus in the construction of waste water treatment plants followed in the second part of the seminar. The original business cooperation also acquires, in the frame of the Czech Development Agency projects, the elements of the economic development´s partnership which should result in the transfer of the Czech technology and the start of production of domestic waste water treatment plants directly in Kosovo. The director of the Ircon company stressed that Kosovar trading partners have proven to be highly reliable and efficient and that Kosovo is a very promising country for the Czech business.

The representatives of the Kosovo Company Ekoinvest introduced their company established in 2011 which is specialized in energy and transport sector. They informed about the upcoming projects for the reconstruction of the coal power plants Kosovo A and B, the planned construction of the new coal power plant Kosovo New and about the opportunities for the Czech suppliers. Concerning the transport sector, they also mentioned programs to extend the motorways, to repair the road network and to renew the Kosovar railway.

The seminar was attended by the representatives of small and large Czech companies that either operate in Kosovo or contemplate entering the Kosovar market. Several promising areas of further possible cooperation were identified during the seminar. The high number of participants in the seminar shows the interest of the Czech companies to enter into the very promising market of Kosovo.