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By:
Ardit Kika
- 8 October 2025 20:01
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Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has commented on the latest World Bank publication on economic growth, saying that there is no room for concern. He stressed that for many indices Kosovo is first in the region. The World Bank predicts a slowdown in economic growth compared to last year by 0.6 percent compared to last year (from 4.4 to 3.8 percent).
The World Bank's forecast of a 0.6 percent contraction in economic growth, according to economists, should serve as a wake-up call for the country's institutions. Kosovo's economic growth for 2025 is expected to be slower than last year, falling from 4.4 to 3.8 percent, according to the latest World Bank report.
The Director of the GAP Institute, Blendi Hasaj, says that in addition to global trends, the political crisis is also contributing to the contraction of economic growth.
"Normally, we are slightly ahead in terms of economic growth rates compared to countries in the region for this reason, but these values, which are in the macroeconomic aspect, do not necessarily indicate much about the standard of living in the country. Per capita income in Kosovo is not even 15 percent of the European Union average, which speaks volumes about the quality and standard of our living," said Hasaj.
He has criticized institutions for not investing in the energy sector and not promoting productivity in the economy.
"Unfortunately, we are not doing much to increase productivity in the economy, we lack training, skills development, education programs that reflect the need that reports have shown. Including this one from the World Bank, reports show a very low level of productivity in our economy, so I think it is a problem to be content with these macroeconomic values to talk about the progress we may or may not have as a country," said Hasaj.
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The World Bank predicted a slowdown in economic development, Kurti: There is no room for concern
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who read the World Bank report, said that Kosovo is consistently at the top of the lists for the Western Balkans.
"We are doing everything we know and can to help the private sector, in addition to public enterprises, to help citizens with financial support in order to increase aggregate demand, we are supporting Kosovo's exports and also, as you see here, the generation of electricity, in which case the investment is in increasing capacity, but also in security and sustainability. The good news is that Kosovo in the second quarter of this year had an economic growth of 4.58 percent of Gross Domestic Product and do not forget that often for so many indices of both democracy and the economy, Kosovo is at the top of the Western Balkans. And I believe that this will continue even further", he said during the visit to KEK.
The acting Prime Minister also stated that citizens should not worry.
"In the last four years, the average economic growth has been 6 percent, never falling below 4 percent. In the second quarter of this year it is 4.58 percent. This means that we will not fall below 4 percent any longer, let's see what the report for the third quarter of this year will be like. But so far it is good. International reports prepare us even more, but of course for now the figures show that there is no room for concern," Kurti said.
The World Bank report on Kosovo mentions the high number of people who are not in work and the low number in education and training. It also notes the low participation of women in the labor market - half the participation of men.
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CBK predicts slowdown in economic growth and acceleration in inflation
The World Bank report also states that political uncertainty could delay reforms in the region, especially those related to the unblocking of EU funds.
Inflation is also mentioned as a problem, for which it is said that from August 2024 to 2025, food price inflation is 10 percent higher. The World Bank predicts that Kosovo will have the highest economic growth decline in the region after Serbia – which has suffered a decline from 3.9 to 2.8 percent or 1.1 percent. Only for Macedonia and Montenegro, the WB has predicted an acceleration of economic growth for 2025.
