| Hakim Hayat |
ENVER Hoxhaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo said that he sees vast potential for collaboration in many areas of trade and investment with Brunei Darussalam, and looks forward to achieving this through an exchange of visits between business leaders from both countries in the near future.
The visiting minister was speaking on the sidelines of a courtesy call with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD) yesterday, and also told the Bulletin that both sides had agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in terms of economy and people during an earlier meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The minister also said that both sides discussed matters of regional and international importance, and that he looks forward to more regular discussions in the future.
According to Hoxhaj, the meeting with several business leaders from NCCIBD at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas offered Kosovo a better perspective on potential collaboration and investment opportunities within the Sultanate and the Asean region. “We are more than interested to organise in near future an investment and trade forum in Brunei, in order to bring business people and members from the Kosovo government to showcase possibility of cooperation and opportunities of investment,” he said.
Enver Hoxhaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, in a group photo with officials from the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam. – DEAN KASSIM
The minister said that the tourism industry has a potential for mutual exploration, while also noting other emergent industries such as ICT, construction and services. “Kosovo is a very young state and is youngest state in Europe…but we have a very stable political situation, the best micro fiscal policies a stable economy and an annual GDP growth of around four per cent in the last few years,” he said, adding that these conditions makes Kosovo an ideal hub for the Asean business community to invest in Europe.
“We signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union (EU), which means that if one invests in Kosovo, they are close to having access to the EU market of over than 500 million,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Haji Kamaruddin bin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib, the Honorary Chairman of the NCCIBD, said that they look forward to realising many of the investment opportunities that were discussed during the meeting. “We took note of opportunities in commerce and investment…so the way forward now is to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCCIBD and also the main Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo,” he said. “We are also looking forward to support from both Brunei and Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry, and are planning to have the investment forum before the end of this year’s second quarter.”
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