“Prishtina 4Ict Industry 2021” Insights & Reflections

BY ALBANA LAKNORI*

The creation of the TIK Industry and the development of digital transformation, the innovative solutions “SMART” and the introduction of TIK services internationally were the major objectives of EEN Kosovo and its inter-regional B2B and Matchmaking Event, focused on the TIK and digital sector.

When the staff of the Chamber and I were making preparations for this event, held in Prishtina, I was a bit doubtful if it would be successful due to pandemic and its accompanying restrictions. Not only the event turned out wonderfully but it overcame its expectations and I left Prishtina with the hope and faith that Kosovo will become an example for Albania. And I felt good.

Below I am making a short account of what we did in Prishtina.

B2B and Matchmaking in Prishtina was jointly organized by Prishtina REA, Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Tirana (CTIT), Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA), The Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania during April 22-23, 2021 where ICT and the Digital Companies from the region (Kosovo, the Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Albania and Montenegro) had the opportunity to meet aiming at exploring the possible business potentials and the creating of direct cooperation among their respective counterparts from the TIK which represents the most vivid sector of the Western Balkans of the most developed enterprises of technology.

Meeting STIKK marked the first day to continue with the visit in the Innovation Center of Kosovo (ICK). STIKK has the role of mediating between the interested stakeholders in the field of TIK, especially in the relations between the business community and the government.

ICK aims to connect the research and development component of scientific field with the business sector focusing on the creation of new job possibilities oriented towards the future, based on new knowledge and technology.

ICK was founded to boost the startups, the innovation and the development of commercial businesses focusing on the technology of information and communication. The Center supports the startups as well as the aspiring existing companies.

The next visit was in evroTarget. evroTarget L.L.C. begun in 2006 as a branch of L.L.C. which was founded in 2011 and is part of HORIZONTE GROUP AG.

Actually evroTarget employs around 250 employees and is constantly trying to create new jobs through addressing new projects.

The aim of evroTarget is to provide high-quality and reliable services and products which suit to individual clients The event continued with a visit at Gjirafa.

Gjirafa Inc. is a US company. It is a platform of production and a studio of production of videos and leading company of sales on Internet. Gjirafa runs Internet services in the Balkans and the Albanian Diaspora. Gjirafa Inc. is the company with the fastest growth in the Balkans which offers Internet services and one of the initial businesses with the biggest investment in VC by reputable investors in Europe. Gjirafa is ranked the 11th on the list of Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking for the Central Europe and the first in the region with an increase of 1,500 % in the last four years. Their vision is to build the economy of internet in the Balkans focusing on the main services that are missing in the region for a market of around 12 million of inhabitants. The last visit was at LinkPlus IT company.

LinkPlus IT is a company of specialized software in developing applications of escalated enterprises. They use the latest technologies helping the businesses to contact their client in all the mediums despite the platform they use. This includes applications in web, Android, iOS and HTML5.

DAY2 – B2B AND MATCHMAKING MEETINGS.

ICT companies, invited by CCIT in this event, took part in the B2B meetings, organized during the second day, with companies from Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and others. The lesson we received was simple but grand. These girls and boys , who had studied abroad, great professional women and men had brought the last say of technology to Prishtina and they were trying to resolve on their own initiative two important things: 1. Youth employment 2. Development of Kosovo economy. I wish Albania learns from their experience to support Albanian youth because we have endless possibilities to do that.

Thank you Ahmet, Mimoza, Mergim, Ermal, Dominik, Shpat for your far vision, dedication and the inspiration you gave to me.

*Secretary General

Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Tirana