Shahini: Relations between the government and Trump administration are cold – We risk losing the MCC Investment

According to Agim Shahini, President of the Kosovo Business Alliance, the possible loss of the $236.7 million investment from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which is reportedly set to be shut down by Washington, would have a significant impact on Kosovo’s economy.

"The Trump administration made a major global shake-up within 100 days. They shut down several departments, including parts of USAID, Radio Free Europe, and the MCC. Kosovo could have been a frontrunner in utilizing U.S. funding, but due to the rather cold relations between the Government of Kosovo and the Trump administration, we risk losing over $220 million from the MCC fund," Shahini told Kosovo Online.

He warned that, because Kosovo still lacks a constituted Assembly and Government, it also risks losing several hundred million euros and dollars from all international funds ready to invest in Kosovo. He believes that this money will most likely be redirected elsewhere—most likely to Albania or Serbia.

Shahini emphasized that economic growth does not depend solely on the private sector but also on the public sector, foreign investment, production, and exports.

"Each year, Kosovo has less and less of these. Although Kosovo has a positive growth rate, according to EU statistics, it remains one of the poorest countries in Europe after Ukraine. This means we are still living in very poor conditions. Therefore, the new Government of Kosovo should listen to the voice of the people, investors, and business community, and develop a strategy to escape poverty and grow the economy. Until that happens, citizens of Kosovo will continue to leave for the European Union in search of work," Shahini concluded.