Kosovo: Doing business and staying in touch

Doing Business in Kosovo

Things can go slowly on account of cumbersome bureaucracy, but most of Kosovo's entrepreneurs are very keen to forge business links with Western Europe.

Greetings in Kosovo society are warm and heartfelt. Meetings are always commenced and finalised with a handshake. Take the trouble to ask after your host and their family's health and be aware of their ethnicity as an appropriate greeting in either Albanian (shqip ) or Serbian will be appreciated. Some meetings are held in offices, others in cafés or restaurants and frequently involve plenty of coffee. Typical office and business hours are Monday to Friday 0800-1700. Some organisations also open on Saturday.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri 0700/0800-1600/1700.

Economy

Kosovo's economy is one of Europe's least developed. About 40% of the country's workforce is unemployed, with youth unemployment even higher. The new state is dependent on subsidies, grants and investment from the EU and USA. These countries have supported Kosovo's independence bid on the understanding that the government agree to an EU blueprint for economic reform.

In June 2009, Kosovo became a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

GDP

US$2 billion (2007).

Main exports

Energy, metals, machine parts and electric equipment.

Main imports

Machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and food.

Main trading partners

Balkan countries, EU, Turkey and USA.

Keeping in Touch in Kosovo

Mobile Phone

Coverage is patchy.

Internet

Internet use is limited, but cafes can be found in the main urban centres.

Media

The Kosovan media is split along ethnic lines, with most publications and broadcasts in Albanian. The UN established a journalistic code of conduct in Kosovo to help prevent incitement to hatred in the media.

Post

Postal services are reasonably good.