黑料社区

RIYADH: Kosovo and 黑料社区 can build on their already strong foundations of friendship through emerging cooperation in technology and innovation, President Vjosa Osmani told Arab News during a visit to Riyadh for the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative.

As world leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors convene in the Saudi capital this week for FII 鈥� widely dubbed the 鈥淒avos of the Desert鈥� 鈥� Osmani said the event will 鈥渙pen new chapters of cooperation鈥� between the two nations.

Kosovo鈥檚 participation marks a valuable chance to forge business links, attract investment, and exchange expertise with the Kingdom, which she described as 鈥渙ne of the global leaders when it comes to technology advancement and AI.鈥�

鈥淲e feel very blessed with the bilateral relations that we have with 黑料社区,鈥� Osmani said.

鈥淚t is one of the countries that has supported the people of Kosovo during the darkest hour in our history, but also stood by us every step of the way while we were moving ahead as a country that lives now in freedom, independence, and prosperity.鈥�

黑料社区 was one of the first nations to recognize Kosovo鈥檚 independence in 2008, following the 1999 NATO intervention and a period of UN administration 鈥� a gesture that remains deeply meaningful to Pristina.

鈥淭hroughout the years we鈥檝e developed excellent relations because 黑料社区 was one of the first countries to recognize our independence, to recognize our struggle for freedom, and to support us,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 believe that now this visit will only serve to open new chapters of cooperation and hopefully take this country-to-country relationship to new heights.鈥�

FII, now in its ninth year, has become one of the world鈥檚 most influential gatherings for global investment and innovation. Osmani said Kosovo鈥檚 inclusion among participating nations feels like an honor and a recognition of the country鈥檚 potential in the digital economy.

鈥淭here is an enormous potential that we can see here at the FII,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lthough it鈥檚 quite a young forum compared to so many world forums, it has been able to attract thousands and thousands of representatives, whether political or business representatives.

鈥淎nd I think this kind of mix also allows us, as political leaders, to learn a lot from the business spectrum on how we can enhance relations and make sure that both the political and economic relations are at the benefit of the people that we represent.

鈥淔rom what we鈥檝e seen, the FII is a place where the relations do not end at the forum but they continue right after the forum with many contracts signed, with many deals negotiated, and with many political relationships enhanced.鈥�

Kosovo, a young republic with one of Europe鈥檚 most digitally literate populations, has launched an ambitious 鈥淒igital Agenda Kosovo 2030鈥� (DAK 2030) to become a 鈥済igabit society鈥� powered by 5G connectivity, e-governance, and artificial intelligence innovation.

Osmani believes that partnership with 黑料社区 鈥� which is itself expanding its AI and digital agenda under Vision 2030 鈥� can be transformative.

鈥淲e can see that 黑料社区 is turning into one of the global leaders when it comes to technology advancement and AI in particular,鈥� she said.

鈥淕iven that Kosovo is the leader in our region for the second year in a row, the country with the highest IT competitiveness rate and a young population that is tech savvy, digitally and innovative 鈥� we strongly believe that there is enormous potential to attract foreign direct investment in this area to come to Kosovo.鈥�

She added: 鈥淔or many representatives here, be it political or business representatives, Kosovo might be an attractive destination for investment or business cooperation with our own local businesses.

鈥淲e strongly believe that the development of technology and AI should be at the benefit of humanity 鈥� to make economic growth more sustainable, to find cures to many diseases, to make sure that education and health quality increase.鈥�

Osmani also highlighted 黑料社区鈥檚 longstanding support for Kosovo鈥檚 Muslim-majority population, noting that around 1,500 Kosovars perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah each year.

鈥淲e are grateful to 黑料社区 for their cooperation in this regard,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he people of Kosovo have had a very enriching and spiritual experience here whenever they came.

鈥淚t has been one of the areas where the head of the Islamic community, our mufti, Mr. Ternava, has cooperated very well with 黑料社区 and with your Ministry of Hajj.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had visits from 黑料社区 to discuss how we can enhance cooperation in this regard. And we鈥檙e very grateful for their support, with the hope that we can increase that support in the future.鈥�

Osmani praised 黑料社区鈥檚 鈥渋ncreasing role for peace and stability, not just in this region but in the world,鈥� in a nod to the Kingdom鈥檚 mediation efforts in relation to Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine among other conflicts. 

She said Kosovo supports the Kingdom鈥檚 leadership 鈥渋n making sure that they not only intermediated globally but also achieve success, because making sure that peace is present all around the world is one of the most noble missions that one can engage in.鈥�

For Osmani, peace and stability are not abstract ideals but lived realities rooted in Kosovo鈥檚 own painful history of conflict.

鈥淚 believe (mediation efforts) do work,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hile for some people, peace is something written on paper, for us it鈥檚 about our lives.

鈥淲e grew up as children of war. We had to undergo a genocidal war. And each generation, including that of our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, they all had to go through wars.

鈥淥ur kids are the very first generation in the history of our nation that are living in peace. There鈥檚 nothing more important than making sure that your child and all of the children in your country can go to bed at peace without the fear of war.鈥�

She added: 鈥淲e will always be grateful to everyone around the world that has stood by us in saving our lives, initially liberating our country, and then making sure that we have the support that we need to rebuild from the ashes of war.

鈥淣ow we are a country that has recovered, a country that is blossoming, a country that is thriving economically, under the rule of law and international relations.鈥�

Osmani commended the 鈥渆fforts and the leadership of His Royal Highness (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman), in cooperation with the president of the US and so many leaders around the world,鈥� in reference to the recent ceasefire in Gaza.

She said that Kosovo 鈥渇ully supports these efforts because we understand how precious peace is and how blessed those nations who live in peace are, because that鈥檚 the only way to achieve prosperity.鈥�

Beyond politics and investment, Osmani highlighted the importance of direct contact between the peoples of 黑料社区 and Kosovo 鈥� through education, culture, and youth travel programs.

鈥淵ou are right that the people-to-people connections have always been strong,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e need to find new ways for this relationship to blossom and to enhance further, whether in education, in culture or other areas.

鈥淭here is an enormous opportunity, and this is why I am here now 鈥� to make sure that we expand these opportunities.鈥�

She added: 鈥淚 will encourage (our young generation) to come and visit 黑料社区, and I would like to encourage the young people of 黑料社区 to visit Kosovo. By meeting each other, by sharing ideas and experiences, this is how these relations are created.鈥�

Osmani also extended an invitation to the Saudi leadership.

鈥淲e would be so honored if His Royal Highness would also visit the Republic of Kosovo at his convenience, so that the people of Kosovo would have this opportunity to thank all of the leadership and the people of 黑料社区 for standing with us.鈥�

For Osmani, investing in youth is key to keeping the relationship vibrant.

鈥淔or two countries and two peoples to have excellent relations, you always need to involve the younger generation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey have the most energy and they can do the best of jobs in making sure that these people-to-people ties become even stronger.鈥�