Strategic investments in Kosovo and Albania, as well as in the region, can exceed the value of 10 billion US dollars, if institutions and businesses are ready to prepare credible projects for international investors.
This is the assessment of the founder of Strategic Group, as well as the Executive Director of the American Center for Combating Terrorism and Extremism based in the USA, Arianit Shehu, who says that the purpose of this company is to mediate between international capital and the economic potential of Kosovo and Albania.
Shehu: Strategic Group, a bridge between powerful international capital and the potential of Kosovo and Albania
“I have spent about 25 years in public service positions. Even seeing the potential that Kosovo has, Albania has, Albanian businesses have, but also seeing the obstacles we have in economic development and renewal, I have decided to establish my company Strategic Group, to make a kind of bridge between the powerful international capital and the potential that Kosovo and Albania have in absorbing and absorbing this capital”, says Shehu.
He estimates that Kosovo has a competitive workforce in terms of cost, educated young people and favorable conditions for investors.
Shehu: We still have a much cheaper workforce compared to countries in the region and Europe
“We still have a much cheaper labor force compared to countries in the region and Europe. The preferential conditions that the governments of Kosovo and Albania have for investors are very favorable, the price of electricity is also favorable compared to other countries. We have the readiness of the governments of Kosovo and Albania for institutional guarantees to investors, we have very well-educated, educated, diligent and ready-to-work youth. So all of these are indicators of success, which has led me to think about how to use all those connections that I have built for these 20-25 years, with institutional heads around the world, with the heads of governments, with the offices of princes, of kings. And to convince them that Kosovo and Albania are safe and logical places for investors, to bring their international capital to the development of our country”, emphasizes Shehu.
The former senior director of the American National Democratic Institute in more than 20 countries, says that Kosovo lacks institutional and political stability.
“What Kosovo lacks is institutional and political stability. It is clear, all our international partners tell us. The potential it has, it has in agritourism, it has in tourism in general, it has in agriculture, it has in the construction of financial centers, and in the training of the new generation, our youth, mainly in the field of IT and cyber security. Apart from these, Albania also has the Albanian coast, which is still unexplored in terms of strategic investments and the return of Albania to a truly world center of tourism”, underlines Shehu.
According to him, the economic cooperation between Kosovo and Albania should be deepened through new agreements, including the joint management of funds and the creation of financial and security systems.
“I know that our governments have signed several agreements on economic cooperation, I have also lectured for more than 10 years at the University of Philadelphia in international relations, there is nothing that prevents today Kosovo and Albania from signing agreements on economic cooperation, on the joint management of funds, on the creation of joint financial systems, of joint security systems. I know that the will exists, but we must find a way to implement those agreements, and to create new agreements with frameworks which guarantees investments but also uses investments in the most effective way possible. The goal of Strategic Group is to be at the service of strategic investments for the benefit of the governments of Kosovo and Albania. Our mission is to return Kosovo and Albania to places where our youth will not only seek their destiny outside our borders, but we hope that everything starts with ambition.
The former adviser to the former American Secretary of State, Mrs. Madeleine Albright, at the Aspen Institute and the Atlantic Council, Shehu says that the process to convince investors from Saudi Arabia to invest in Kosovo and Albania has lasted for weeks and months. He emphasizes that his many years of experience and contacts established in the Middle East have influenced the decision to visit Kosovo and Albania.
“We have been communicating for weeks, for months. To convince them that Kosovo and Albania are known as they are, not to be analyzed by the news and what can be found on the Internet. My personal contacts that I have built, the trust they have in me, in my work in the Middle East for 20 years, it was certainly necessary to make the decision that a high official of the Saudi royal family comes with the clear purpose of investment capital in our economies. It has not been easy because the analysis that their offices do based on the risks that are seen today in the news and in my personality, has made them take the decision and come to Kosovo, without a doubt that the government of the Republic of Kosovo and that of Albania have proven that Kosovo and Albania are really the countries that I have proclaimed as safe and suitable for strategic investments”, says Shehu.
He states that Prince Naif Al Saud’s companies are part of the Strategic Group, while the aim is for other international investors to join this structure.
According to him, the focus of investments will be in Kosovo, Albania and Albanian businesses in the region.
“Prince Naif Al Saud has a bunch of his own companies. All the Prince’s companies are part of the Strategic Group. The Strategic Group at the moment is an international conglomerate, not formal, because we are not registered anywhere. My goal with the Prince is to continue to include other credible and large investors as part of the Strategic Group. To continue to grow the Strategic Group as one of the world’s most powerful companies that manage international capital. The goal of the Strategic Group is to focus this capital in Kosovo, Albania and the Albanian businesses in the Albanian territories. I do not want to overlook our businesses in Presheva, in Greece and in North Macedonia”, declares Shehu.
Shehu has announced that energy, tourism and strategic infrastructure are the main areas where investments are expected, while as one of the possible projects he has also mentioned the reactivation of the Ski Center in Brezovica.
“I strongly believe that this is just the beginning. If we manage to present detailed ambitious projects, clear projects, this amount will be multiplied. Not only from Prince Naif, but also from other high personalities who I hope will join the Strategic Group. At the moment, by agreement, all the companies of Prince Naif are part of an enterprise that we continue to call Strategic Group at the international level. The main field is energy, it is tourism, and projects strategic infrastructure. I am very interested in working with the government of the Republic of Kosovo for the reactivation of the Ski Center in Brezovica, the construction of other ski centers in other countries. In addition to the investment, it also has the benefit of creating jobs and engaging Kosovar companies to implement these investments.
He says that the benefit from these investments would not only be financial, but would also affect the creation of new jobs and the engagement of local companies in the realization of projects.
However, Shehu emphasizes that it cannot be determined in advance how much of the amount of 10 billion US dollars will be invested in Kosovo, as this, according to him, depends on the capacity of institutions and businesses to prepare and absorb the investments.
“Everything depends on how prepared the government of the Republic of Kosovo and Kosovar businesses are to absorb credible investments. And at the same time, the government of the Republic of Albania and Albanian businesses in North Macedonia and Montenegro. In other words, everything will depend on how ready we are as a government, as a state, as businesses, to absorb these funds. If we are able to absorb them, I believe that 10 billion will be strongly exceeded, because we will also have other investors who will be interested in projects. Now is the time for us to be ready as a state, as businesses, to present credible projects that are ready to absorb investments. As Strategic, we also have agreements with the World Bank and the European Bank, which guarantee up to 80 percent of strategic capital investments, from the investors that Strategic Group works with.
In the end, Shehu also spoke about security in Kosovo, congratulating the Kosovo Police for its work. “Just a special thank you and words of encouragement, I have more than 25 years of active work in matters of security, anti-terror and extremism in war zones, and I want to congratulate our police. Despite the difficulties, the small salaries, the lack of health insurance that must be addressed. Gallup International ranks Kosovo as the safest country in Europe, it is a great achievement. That result is not achieved only by wishing, but by daily work. It is the first comment that I got it from the Prince: In Kosovo and Albania you can walk on the street unprotected, and not feel at all endangered”, says Shehu. /Kosovapress/
