Issue 8

Kosovo Business Journal the offical newsletter of amchamksv.org Issue 8 // October 2008 // Prishtina, Kosovo

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EU Quality Standards Workshop held AmCham Kosovo participates in the ECACC Fall Conference 2008 Corruption’s Impact to the Kosovo Business Community Project enters its final stage

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Kosovo Business Journal

AmCham EU Quality

Standards Workshop held

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merican Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, as an organization, represents the interests of Kosovo Business Community and in the same time strives to improve the general business environment in Kosovo and help businesses to become more competitive while applying well-known product/service quality standards. One relevant issue for the business community is also the involvement of the business community in the Kosovo’s EU integration process, particularly being able to fulfill the requirements that come out of the EU Economic criteria.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo and the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society have begun implement the Project in Support of Kosovo Business Community Involvement in the Kosovo’s EU integration process. As part of this project, AmCham Kosovo organized on October 2nd and October 3rd, 2008, a two day workshop titled “EU Quality Standards.” Present in the workshop were the Minister and representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry,

representatives from USAID AmCham members as well as various businesses and representatives of Kosovo business associations.

businesses can benefit from regional and EU integration. The agenda for the workshop on both days included presentations by local and international experts on EU Quality Standards as The aim of the workshop was well as question & answer sesto inform and involve the busi- sion between the businesses and ness community in Kosovo’s presenters which spurred a conEU Integration Process while structive debate on understandencouraging our businesses to ing EU Quality Standards fulfilling quality standards and understanding ways how their the offical newsletter of amchamksv.org

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Kosovo Business Journal

First Day of the workshop

The agenda for the first day kicked off with the opening remarks held by Mimoza Kusari Lila, AmCham Kosovo Director. Mrs. Kusari – Lila emphasized the importance of meeting Quality Standards while also stressing the role of the businesses associations in facilitating this process. Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Trade and Industry Mr. Ibrahim Krasniqi also had kind words for this workshop. Mr. Krasniqi said that similar workshops to this one organized by AmCham Kosovo add value to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, respectively the Kosovo Standardisation Agency, work on standardisation and accreditation.

The first presenter for the day was Mr. Hafiz Gara, the Executive Chief of Kosovo Standardisation Agency. Mr. Gara talked about the establishment of Kosovo Standardisation Agency and the obstacles they have faced since it was established in 2005. Mr. Gara elaborated on the Standardization process in Kosovo: Challenges, Obstacles and Future Imperatives while also explaining how the agency is adapting numerous standards from the EU and is establishing technical committees on various sectors within the agency.

International Speaker Mr. Richard Wheatley, who currently is the team leader of MSTQ

Project (Measuring, Standardisation, Testing, and Quality) – an EU financed project, presented on the topic: EU Standardization Obligations. He explained how EU Market works through Harmonized Technical Regulation, Common Standards, Conformity Assessment, CE Marking, and Market Surveillance.

Mr. Richard Wheatley, presenter also on the first day, explained to the participating businesses in the workshop how EU Quality Standards can be achieved by Kosovo Businesses to become more competitive and efficient in the EU market. Businesses and the speakers had a long debate on Mr. Edmond Hajrizi, local CE Marking and its importance expert in Quality Management to Kosovo businesses. and Standardisation, who presented on the importance of At the end of the second day, meeting EU quality standards Mr. Ekrem Hoxha – from the by the Kosovo businesses, was EBRD TAM/BAS Programme the third speaker for the day. Team presented on Kosovo Mr. Hajrizi talked about the standards and offered figures Quality Management Principles and data on quality manageand success factors of business- ment. He explained what is es such as expectations of cus- TAM/BAS Programme and tomers, efficient and effective what kind of assistance does processes as well as continuous it provide to the Kosovo busiimprovement. The presenta- nesses. After the presentation, tions were followed by Ques- it was time for the Graduation tion & Answer Session.

Ceremony of 11 Lead Auditors from Bureau Veritas, an EBRD Second day of the TAM/BAS Programme.

workshop

The second day of the workshop begun with the presentation by the international speaker, Mr. Mike Webb, member of MSQT Project. Mr. Webb presented on CE Marking while being focused on: “CE Marking” – as a pathway in achieving greater efficiency and higher EU Standards. He explained to the businesses what is CE Marking, how important is for the businesses, and what are the safety and health requirements in the EU concerning CE marking.

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The cocktail at the closing of the workshop for the participants served for refreshing while the discussion on quality standards continued even after that.

Notification , who are All of you, dear members Governthe by y, wa affected, in any ion 07/35, ment of Kosova’s Decis , on Penalty 08 20 , 10 er dated Septemb re informaCancellation and need mo te to contact us tion, please do not hesita for assistance.

AmCham Staff

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Kosovo Business Journal

AmCham Kosovo participates in the ECACC Fall Conference 2008

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he European Council of American Chambers of Commerce held its annual Fall Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, from October 1215, 2008. American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo represented by the executive director Mrs. Mimoza Kusari Lila also participated in the conference.

The ECACC Fall Conference 2008 was a great opportunity to network with fellow AmCham colleagues across Europe, share experiences on policy, and discuss American Chambers of Commerce in Europe top issues.

Mrs. Mimoza Kusari Lila along with the AmChams representatives explored “The Future Direction of AmChams,” and “The Prospect of Digital Communication” through being engaged in executive leadership trainings

and break-out sessions. The participation of AmCham Kosovo in this conference was much appreciated while it was also a great opportunity to network and explore future cooperation prospects with the participating chambers.

Corruption’s Impact to the Kosovo Business Community Project enters its final stage

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he American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo has started implementing the project “Business Environment and Corruption’s Impact to the Kosovo Business Community.” This project is fully supported by the US Embassy in Kosovo while the aim of the project is to assess the potential losses of Kosovo’s economy due to corruption and bribe.

will be prepared and publicized a report on causes of corruption, damages it causes to the business community and general business environment while the whole project will be finalized with a conference, involving a wide range of institutions in it.

Main parts of this project will be the survey and the Conference where results from the survey will be presented. The research, conducted with about The project involves con- 550 Kosovar companies disducting a survey from which it persed throughout Kosovo, is al-

most finished. Companies range from small and medium to big size companies, from sectors such as production and services to trade. Moreover, the business entities come from different multinational backgrounds (Albanian, Serbian, Turkish, Bosnian, Roma and others).

Upcoming Event Conference on Corruption’s Impact to the Kosovo Business Community Place: Hotel Grand Date: November 6th, 2008,

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Special thanks to: • American School of Kosova • AGANI Ltd • ANTIKA • Asia Rahovec • Atlantic Capital Partners • AUK • Avers Kosova • Banka Ekonomike • BEJTA Commerce • BONUS • BOGA&ASSOCIATES • British Airways • Buçaj Sh.p.k.

• CEO • Coca Cola HBC Kosovo L.L.C • COMPAKT GROUP • CONIN • Deloitte • Devolli Company • Dukagjini Group • ECOTRADE • ELTING • FEKI • Gacaferi • Gllareva • Gorenje Niti Tiki • Grant Thornton • Ilir Kosova • INFORMATIKA Computers sh.p.k • JAHA COMPANY • Kosova Steel • Login Systems Kosova sh.p.k • M&Sillosi • McCroft Tobacco Kosovo LLC • MDA • Meridian • Microsoft • N.T.P. YESSPHARMA • New Kosovo Energy LLC • NewCo Ferronikeli Complex LLC • NLB Prishtina • Pestova • PharmaSwiss SA, Sh.p.k • Procredit Bank • PRONET • Propharm Helvetica • Raiffeisen Bank • RIALKO Company • RIMA Eng. • Royal Iliria University • RWE Power Kosovo LLC • Scan Color & Jysk • Sharr Beteiligungs GmbH • SIGAL • Smart Investment Group • Triangle General Contractors Inc • UBT • Unio Commerce - Silcapor • Washington Group International • Western Union • Xella GZG Lipjan L.L.C • Shridev Sharma • Zero Pozitive Publicis

American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo Gustav Majer STR. No 6 Prishtina, Kosovo, 10,000 Phone: 038 246012 Fax: 038 248012 e-mail: newsletter@amchamksv.org www.amchamksv.org Executive Director: Mimoza Kusari – Lila Coordinator: Mentor Mehmeti Prepared by: AmCham Kosovo staff Design: ASHA Graphics for comments and suggestions, please write us at: kbj@amchamksv.org