Export for Kosovo Growth

25/11/2025

Vetëm nga një program i BE-së janë mbështetur rreth 2 mijë biznese.

Ahmet Jetullahu, nga Prishtina REA, për Ekonomiks

Storie e përgatitur nga bashkëpunimi i RTK-së me ERNO – Shkëmbimi Rajonal i Lajmeve të Eurovizionit.

https://youtu.be/_FYri8Ql0ko

27/05/2025

Balkonnect Festival-Prishtina 2025

Welcoming Speech: addressed by Mr. Ivan Hadjov, on behalf of Mastercard

26/05/2025

🏭 Thematic Session VI – Outsourcing Industry: The High-tech and Manufacturing Competitive Hub
🌐 This session brought together leaders in ICT, manufacturing, and global service delivery to explore how the Western Balkans is becoming a strategic destination for smart outsourcing and innovation-driven production.
🤖 From AI-powered solutions and agile software teams to advanced manufacturing and cross-border project ex*****on, the panel showcased the region’s growing capability to serve international markets with precision and quality.
🚀 A strong call for scaling partnerships, boosting competitiveness, and positioning the Balkans at the heart of tomorrow’s global value chains.

26/05/2025

💻 Thematic Session IV – ICT & Digital: The Evolution of SaaS and Emerging Technologies
🚀 This session brought together pioneers in software development, cloud platforms, AI, data analytics and digital transformation to explore how the Western Balkans is positioning itself as a competitive tech outsourcing and product innovation hub.
🌐 From SaaS scaleups to blockchain applications, cross-border interoperability and collaboration models, panelists discussed the technologies shaping tomorrow’s digital economy — and the talent driving it from within the region.
📡 A forward-looking conversation on innovation, scalability, and the digital bridges connecting the Balkans to the global tech landscape.

21/05/2025

🔥𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
🎤 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
From digital transformation and smart finance, to green innovation, cross-border outsourcing, tourism, and future skills — the Balkonnect Festival 2025 brings together over 50 speakers from across Europe, the Balkans, the USA, and Asia.
🔎 Here’s the full lineup of our 7 Thematic Sessions and the Pitching Event:
🌍 Experts, founders, Entrepreneurs, VCs, policy shapers, tech leaders and Startups
📢 7 curated panels moderated by top industry voices
🚀 10 selected startups will take the stage to pitch in front of 7+ Venture Capital funds, business angels, and private investors
💡 Discussions that will shape tomorrow’s regional growth
Whether you're a startup, investor, policymaker, or corporate leader — this is your chance to connect with the people leading transformation in the region.
📅 23–24 May 2025
📍 Hotel Emerald, Prishtina
🎟 Free participation | 🌐 www.balkonnect.com

🔥𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
🎤 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

From digital transformation and smart finance, to green innovation, cross-border outsourcing, tourism, and future skills — the Balkonnect Festival 2025 brings together over 50 speakers from across Europe, the Balkans, the USA, and Asia.

🔎 Here’s the full lineup of our 7 Thematic Sessions and the Pitching Event:
🌍 Experts, founders, Entrepreneurs, VCs, policy shapers, tech leaders and Startups
📢 7 curated panels moderated by top industry voices
🚀 10 selected startups will take the stage to pitch in front of 7+ Venture Capital funds, business angels, and private investors
💡 Discussions that will shape tomorrow’s regional growth

Whether you're a startup, investor, policymaker, or corporate leader — this is your chance to connect with the people leading transformation in the region.
📅 23–24 May 2025
📍 Hotel Emerald, Prishtina
🎟 Free participation | 🌐 www.balkonnect.com

21/05/2025

Thematic session//
𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚 – 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉-𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉 & 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑯𝒖𝒃
This session examines how outsourcing is evolving from a cost-cutting strategy into a driver of innovation, global expansion, and long-term resilience — especially for high-tech and manufacturing sectors.

Thematic session//
𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚 – 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉-𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉 & 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑯𝒖𝒃

This session examines how outsourcing is evolving from a cost-cutting strategy into a driver of innovation, global expansion, and long-term resilience — especially for high-tech and manufacturing sectors.
✅From Cost-Saving to Value Creation – how outsourcing delivers innovation, flexibility, and digital transformation

✅AI & Automation – shaping the future of remote service delivery and operational scalability
✅Cross-Border Partnerships – overcoming legal and cultural barriers to enable global collaboration
✅Sustainable Outsourcing – ethical models and ESG-aligned practices for responsible growth
✅Hybrid Delivery Models – blending in-house expertise with agile external teams for faster market entry
✅R&D and IP Protection – enabling innovation while securing long-term commercial viability

Moderated by Mark Jensen (BEST International LLC), this diverse panel brings together:
✅Dominik Raškaj (BoljiPosao.com)
✅Gezim Jupolli (Viprint SHPK)
✅Jeta Zagragja (AnchorzUp)
✅Gonçalo Terenas (Diaspora Prime Portugal)
✅Vigan Disha (SPEEEX)
✅Filipe Ortigao Guimarães (Between Galaxies)
✅Drin Mulliqi (Red Mill)
✅Erdem Dereli (Gobi Partners)

19/05/2025

Thematic session//
𝑰𝑪𝑻 & 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 – 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝑨𝑨𝑺 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔
This session explores how SaaS platforms and emerging technologies are reshaping digital business models, unlocking new value, and enabling international scalability from the Western Balkans.
✅SaaS for Digital Identity – secure, integrable identity solutions aligned with cross-border standards like eIDAS 2.0
✅Data Protection & Analytics – enabling smart decision-making while ensuring GDPR-compliant data management
✅AI & Machine Learning – powering user personalization, automation, and product innovation
✅Productivity SaaS – streamlining collaboration, workflow, and project delivery at scale
✅Blockchain in SaaS – ensuring transparency, traceability, and decentralized data integrity in digital solutions
Moderated by Umesh Perera – Ayozat (UK), this panel is composed of:
✅Uranik Begu - Plug and Play (CEE)
✅Arianit Pajaziti - Appbites / Sigma Technology Group (Sweden)
✅Arben Zeqiri - Radix (USA)
✅Bilgin Yazar – Vedubox (Turkey)
✅Jon Jetullahu - IT Vision (Kosovo)
✅Leona Tahiri - LinkPlus IT (Kosovo)
✅Jeton Asani - Gigabel.mk (North Macedonia)

Thematic session//
𝑰𝑪𝑻 & 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 – 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝑨𝑨𝑺 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔
This session explores how SaaS platforms and emerging technologies are reshaping digital business models, unlocking new value, and enabling international scalability from the Western Balkans.

✅SaaS for Digital Identity – secure, integrable identity solutions aligned with cross-border standards like eIDAS 2.0
✅Data Protection & Analytics – enabling smart decision-making while ensuring GDPR-compliant data management
✅AI & Machine Learning – powering user personalization, automation, and product innovation
✅Productivity SaaS – streamlining collaboration, workflow, and project delivery at scale
✅Blockchain in SaaS – ensuring transparency, traceability, and decentralized data integrity in digital solutions

Moderated by Umesh Perera – Ayozat (UK), this panel is composed of:
✅Uranik Begu - Plug and Play (CEE)
✅Arianit Pajaziti - Appbites / Sigma Technology Group (Sweden)
✅Arben Zeqiri - Radix (USA)
✅Bilgin Yazar – Vedubox (Turkey)
✅Jon Jetullahu - IT Vision (Kosovo)
✅Leona Tahiri - LinkPlus IT (Kosovo)
✅Jeton Asani - Gigabel.mk (North Macedonia)

18/05/2025

Thematic session//
𝙒𝒐𝙤𝒅-𝑴𝙚𝒕𝙖𝒍/𝑪𝙤𝒏𝙨𝒕𝙧𝒖𝙘𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣 𝙄𝒏𝙣𝒐𝙫𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙫𝒆 𝑻𝙧𝒂𝙣𝒔𝙛𝒐𝙧𝒎𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣
𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝙍&𝘿-𝙗𝒂𝙨𝒆𝙙 𝘾𝒉𝙖𝒍𝙡𝒆𝙣𝒈𝙚𝒔

Moderated by Rexhep Ilazi (Empower partners), this panel is composed of:
✅Besart Hajrizi (Instabuild-Innovation Center),
✅Georgios Staikos (Staikos 3D GmbH)
✅Sytrime Dervisholli (Kosovo Prefabricated Construction Cluster),
✅Vasilis Rokos (Roka Refractories),
✅Fatmir Miftari (Oxa Group),

To read more about the profiles of the speaker:
https://lnkd.in/dRdE-fDq
23th of May, 11:30h-13:00h/ Strauss/Emerald

Thematic session//
𝙒𝒐𝙤𝒅-𝑴𝙚𝒕𝙖𝒍/𝑪𝙤𝒏𝙨𝒕𝙧𝒖𝙘𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣 𝙄𝒏𝙣𝒐𝙫𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙫𝒆 𝑻𝙧𝒂𝙣𝒔𝙛𝒐𝙧𝒎𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣
𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝙍&𝘿-𝙗𝒂𝙨𝒆𝙙 𝘾𝒉𝙖𝒍𝙡𝒆𝙣𝒈𝙚𝒔

The business show-case models will present the latest industrial
achievements related to:
✅Material Synergies -leverage the benefits to final products,
Renewable Resources in wood and strength and durability of metal
products-sustainability, efficiency and cost-effective building solution,
✅Innovative Construction Appliable Techniques-hybrid construction methodologies (wood and metal combined by-products),
✅Designing Advanced Technologies (like 3D printing, prefabrication) -improving efficiency in construction,
Research and Development Challenges-advanced material properties, testing protocols, performance standards,
✅Scientific and Lab Testing-ensuring diverse climates and building environments, structural integrity
✅Business Case-Models- Real World Illustration of
Wood-Metal/construction Solutions applied to sustainable urban
buildings, public infrastructure and residential projects.

Moderated by Rexhep Ilazi (Empower Partners), this panel is composed of:
✅Besart Hajrizi (InstaBuilt),
✅Georgios Staikos (Staikos 3D GmbH)
✅Sytrime Dervisholli (Kosovo Prefabricated Construction Cluster),
✅Vasilis Rokos (Roka Refractories),
✅Fatmir Miftari (Oxa Group),

To read more about the profiles of the speaker:
https://balkonnect.com/wood-metal-construction/

23th of May, 11:30h-13:00h/ Strauss/Emerald

17/05/2025

Thematic session//
𝑹𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏-𝑨 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅
𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎
This thematic session seeks to bring on the scene the Renewable and Green distinguishing-innovative thoughts, aligning to the European Green Deal, while exploring the multifaceted impact, focusing on key sustainability priorities, including:
✅achieving carbon neutrality,
✅fostering a circular economy,
✅combating pollution, environmental protection
✅promoting sustainable agriculture
✅Data Green solution,
✅hydrogen concepts and
✅leveraging AI, automation, digital transformation and
biosecurity tools for Smart and digital solution
then, how predictability will valorise the investment in renewable energy and circular economies, the PPP-solution initiatives to come, AI and Digital technologies and tools impacting green energy, eco-tourism, sustainable urban planning, green building, Smart cities etc
Moderated by Ilir Shala (GES), this panel is composed of:
✅Hamsa Thota - IBD (USA)
✅Alexandar Eftsathiou (Greece)
✅Driton Hetemi- KFEE (Kosova)
✅Dhvanit Pathak- Tropical Solar Energy PvT (India)
✅Julien Choukroun- Data Green (France)
✅Guri Shkodra - Notus Energy ( Germany)
✅Vladimir Prikryl - Devinn (Czech )
✅Bleta Begu- Rina Consulting (Italy)
To read more about the profiles of the speaker:
https://balkonnect.com/renewable-and-green/
23rd of May, 15:30h-17:00h/ Strauss/Emerald

Thematic session//
𝑹𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏-𝑨 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅
𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎

This thematic session seeks to bring on the scene the Renewable and Green distinguishing-innovative thoughts, aligning to the European Green Deal, while exploring the multifaceted impact, focusing on key sustainability priorities, including:
✅achieving carbon neutrality,
✅fostering a circular economy,
✅combating pollution, environmental protection
✅promoting sustainable agriculture
✅Data Green solution,
✅hydrogen concepts and
✅leveraging AI, automation, digital transformation and
biosecurity tools for Smart and digital solution

then, how predictability will valorise the investment in renewable energy and circular economies, the PPP-solution initiatives to come, AI and Digital technologies and tools impacting green energy, eco-tourism, sustainable urban planning, green building, Smart cities etc

Moderated by Ilir Shala (GES), this panel is composed of:
✅Hamsa Thota - IBD (USA)
✅Alexandar Eftsathiou (Greece)
✅Driton Hetemi- KFEE (Kosova)
✅Dhvanit Pathak- Tropical Solar Energy PvT (India)
✅Julien Choukroun- Data Green (France)
✅Guri Shkodra - Notus Energy ( Germany)
✅Vladimir Prikryl - Devinn (Czech )
✅Bleta Begu- Rina Consulting (Italy)
To read more about the profiles of the speaker:
https://balkonnect.com/renewable-and-green/
23rd of May, 15:30h-17:00h/ Strauss/Emerald

14/05/2025

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Arbnor Imeri - Deputy Chair of the Cybersecurity Committee at the Kosovo Banking Association and Head of Information Security at ProCredit Bank

Arbnor Imeri

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Arbnor Imeri - Deputy Chair of the Cybersecurity Committee at the Kosovo Banking Association and Head of Information Security at ProCredit Bank

🔐 Arbnor Imeri is a leading cybersecurity expert in Kosovo’s financial sector, currently serving as Deputy Chair of the Cybersecurity Committee at the Kosovo Banking Association and Head of Information Security at ProCredit Bank. With deep expertise in risk management, cyber defense, and information assurance, he plays a pivotal role in strengthening the digital resilience of Kosovo’s banking infrastructure.

🏦 At ProCredit Bank, Arbnor leads strategic initiatives aimed at safeguarding critical information systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering a culture of security across operations. His leadership extends beyond the institution, as he actively contributes to national and sectoral efforts to align cybersecurity standards with evolving threats and European best practices.

🔍 With extensive knowledge of both technical and governance aspects of information security, Arbnor advocates for proactive defense strategies and cross-sector collaboration in addressing cyber risk in the banking and finance industry.