"Increase in numbers, decrease in real life"/ Kosovo's economy in the last decade

2026-01-11 15:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Increase in numbers, decrease in real life"/ Kosovo's economy in

The economy of Kosovo has gone through various stages of development in the last decade: growth, decline, stagnation and crisis. Although official data from Kosovo institutions show that there is an increase in some economic indicators, on the ground citizens continue to complain about the deterioration of the standard of living.

The year 2025 closed with economic growth of 3.9 percent and the Central Bank of Kosovo's forecasts are that this year, this figure will reach 4.1 percent.

Growth, according to the CBK, will be based on private consumption, the gradual recovery of exports, and the easing of inflation.

But, in recent years – especially after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – the rise in the cost of essential products and services were among the most talked about topics in Kosovo.

Citizens have often complained that inflation has reduced their purchasing power, forcing many of them to give up products and services, as salaries are not enough to cover all necessary expenses.

Meanwhile, officials from Kosovo institutions have emphasized that inflation is due to the state's continued dependence on the import of foreign products.

In order to mitigate inflation, the Government of Kosovo has increased salaries in the public sector. Meanwhile, the private sector has attempted to help with the "Superpuna" platform, which launched in 2023.

Through this platform, the Government subsidizes the employer by paying the employee's salary for the first six months, in the amount of the minimum wage of 350 euros. The employer then has the right to increase the salary value for the engaged employee.

But, this increase in wages, according to economic experts, has not translated into an improvement in the standard of living of citizens due to high inflation.

In 2025, the number of employees exceeded 400 thousand, thus continuing the trend of increasing the number of employees with formal contracts.

Meanwhile, among the unemployed, there are mostly women, who bear the greatest burden of caring for the family and children.

The small number of nurseries, especially in rural areas, is considered one of the factors that has prevented women from entering the labor market.

One issue that Kosovo's economy suffers from, according to experts in the field, is the high amount of products imported from foreign markets.

Despite the support of Kosovo producers, the trade deficit has not yet been changed due to limited production capacities.

The value of imports has already reached six billion, while the value of Kosovo products that have entered foreign markets is less than one billion euros.

Investimet e huaja në Kosovë konsiderohen shtytës i zhvillimit ekonomik. Megjithëse, viteve të fundit ka rritje të investimeve të huaja direkte sipas shifrave zyrtare, por kjo gjithmonë ka nxitur diskutime se shumica vijnë nga diaspora që investon në patundshmëri.

Si pengesë për investitorët e huaj në Kosovë janë përmendur më parë procedurat e shumta burokratike, ndërkohë që në vitet e fundit është rritur vlera e investimeve nga Kosova jashtë vendit.
Paratë e diasporës dërguar familjarëve të tyre në Kosovë mbeten një ndër shtyllat kryesore të ekonomisë në vend.

Remitencat kanë një ndikim të drejtpërdrejtë në mirëqenien e qytetarëve, duke zvogëluar varfërinë dhe rritur konsumimin.

Por, jo gjithmonë është lavdëruar mënyra e shfrytëzimit të këtyre mjeteve, pasi që është kërkuar ndërrimi i fokusit. Sipas ekspertëve, investimi në projekte kapitale do të ndikonte në zhvillimin e përgjithshëm ekonomik.

Sfida kryesore mbetet përkthimi i rritjes ekonomike në mirëqenie reale, përmes rritjes së prodhimit vendor, pagave të qëndrueshme, uljes së varësisë nga importi dhe krijimit të një klime më të favorshme për investime afatgjata. /REL