Kosovo is the first country in the planned expansion in the Balkans and the first European country outside the EU market that Carvago is targeting. The Czech startup, led by Jakub Šulta (founder of online supermarket Košík.cz), is already present in seven other European countries. Carvago and its business partner Gjirafa aim to digitise the automotive market in Kosovo. Mergim Cahani, the founder of Gjirafa, has been successful in promoting Amazon-like online services in the Western Balkans, and he says that he was inspired by the Czech internet portal and search engine Seznam.cz in the birth of Gjirafa. 

According to the two founders of Carvago by Gjirafa, the online space in the Western Balkans lacks a comprehensive offer of used cars. Sales are limited to the local market, where there are only a fraction of cars compared to the European market. The online sales model offers the buyer a comprehensive service including everything from choosing a car in any country, comparing offers, inspecting the car and delivering it to the customer. The Czech startup aims to expand its territorial offer and create a comprehensive European online offer with the necessary guarantees. The revolutionary idea of expanding the used car market from individual national markets to a single pan-European one was confirmed by the recent media coverage of foreign investors' interest in the Czech startup Carvago.

Ambassador of the Czech Republic Bohumil Mazánek welcomed the Czech investment in the segment of used car sales in Kosovo. He stressed the efforts of the Czech economic diplomacy to further develop economic, investment and technological cooperation between the Czech Republic and Kosovo. Kosovo is a young and rapidly developing market. Whether in the field of investment, the introduction of new technologies or urban development projects, it offers interesting opportunities for foreign investors and exporters. The Czech Republic, which has long supported Kosovo, remains ready to participate in the implementation of new projects in the transport sector (cars, buses, locomotives), healthcare (medical technologies and products, assistance with the construction of hospitals), energy (construction of power plants), in the introduction of integrated rescue systems (firefighting and ambulances) or in the construction of sports infrastructure, which Kosovo needs to host the International Mediterranean Games in 2030.

Czech manufacturers, exporters and investors targeting the Kosovo market can always count on the full support of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Pristina and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in Prague.

Iva Šustáková, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Pristina