İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay met with the Prime Minister Albin Kurti and four ministers, as well as mayors, deputy mayors, and the President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce within the scope of his working visit to Kosovo. Meetings highlighted cooperation opportunities in numerous fields; primarily economy, investment, culture, tourism, sports, youth, health, and local government. 2030 Mediterranean Games, business forums, "Kosova Days", artist and student exchanges, direct flights, and mutual investment opportunities were among the prominent topics.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay held intensive meetings in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, for two days as part of his working visit. During the program, which was also attended by a delegation from Kosovo Rumelia Culture, Art and Tourism Association, meetings were held with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Deputy Prime Minister and President of Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party (KDTP) Fikrim Damka, Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Minister of Youth and Sports Blerim Gashani, and Minister of Culture and Tourism Saranda Bogujevci. Mayor Tugay also met with Lipjan Mayor Imri Ahmeti, Pristina Deputy Mayor Florian Dushi, and Kosovo Chamber of Commerce President Lulzim Rafuna. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Council Members İsa Nezir, Neriman Balcı Türkeri, and Şevket Balla, along with the Head of Foreign Relations Department Selin Sayın Kapancı, participated in the meetings. Kosovo Rumelia Culture, Art and Tourism Association delegation included Association President Uğur Şengöz, High Advisory Board President Mustafa Kul, Association Vice President Necmi Şufta, and Board Member Sevgi Sert.
Kurti: We want to benefit from İzmir's experience
One of the prominent meetings of the program was held with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti. Mayor Tugay stated that an organization can be arranged for Kosovo in autumn with the participation of business people from İzmir and chamber of commerce representatives in order to render economic relations more concrete. Tugay stated that they would be pleased to host businesspeople and institutional representatives from Kosovo in İzmir and also added that increasing direct contacts could create new investment opportunities.
Prime Minister Kurti stated that the strong relations between Türkiye and Kosovo have paved the way for special ties between İzmir and Kosovo. Kurti also requested an increase in visits by business people to foster a better mutual understanding of economic potential, and noted that energy, agriculture, and innovation are among the priority sectors for Kosovo.
Kurti expressed their wish to benefit from İzmir's experience in these fields, and noted that Free Trade Agreement between Türkiye and Kosovo also offers significant opportunities for developing economic relations.
He expressed that İzmir's experience can be considered in environmental and municipal fields, and stated that a cooperation can be established on environmental audits, Geographic Information Systems, waste management, and the protection of natural areas.
During the meeting, opportunities in the healthcare systems were also addressed. Kurti stated that some patients who cannot be treated in Kosovo are being sent to Türkiye, and expressed that joint works can be developed between İzmir's healthcare infrastructure and Kosovo. 2030 Mediterranean Games were also highlighted during the meeting.
Mayor Tugay expressed that he is ready to share İzmir's experience in various fields, particularly in agriculture, environment, municipal administration, sports, and infrastructure.
"Economic relations should be based on mutual benefits"
Mayor Tugay met with the Deputy Prime Minister and KDTP President Fikrim Damka. Tugay noted that cultural relations should be supported by economic partnerships and added that as İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, they are ready to assist business people wishing to trade or invest with Kosovo. He emphasized that this support also applies to initiatives by Kosovan investors in İzmir. Tugay stated that they pay attention to strengthen Kosovo economically and noted that economic relations between the two sides should be developed with an understanding of mutual benefits.
On the other hand, Damka noted that Turkish investments generate significant employment in Kosovo and expressed their desire to increase new investments.
Positive response from Minister of Internal Affairs Sveçla to İzmir invitation
Mayor Tugay shared his proposals to improve economic, social, and cultural relations during his meeting with Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla. Tugay stated that the bonds of friendship between İzmir and Kosovo should be reinforced through concrete projects, and emphasized the need to increase direct contacts among business people, chambers of commerce and industry, and cultural institutions.
Sveçla highlighted the strong relations between Türkiye and Kosovo and stated that he closely follows İzmir's industrial and manufacturing capacity. Sveçla reminded that he had previously visited the BMC factory in İzmir, and stated that Kosovo can also benefit from the manufacturing experience of Turkish companies. Sveçla also mentioned that he has personal and family ties to İzmir, and spoke about the visits he made to İzmir with his family during his childhood.
Mayor Tugay invited Sveçla to İzmir and Minister Sveçla stated that he would accept the invitation with pleasure.
İzmir's experience for 2030 Mediterranean Games
During the meeting with Kosovo Minister of Youth and Sports Blerim Gashani, Mayor Tugay evaluated the preparations for 2030 Mediterranean Games. Minister Gashani expressed that they want to develop broader cooperation with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality in the fields of sports and youth. Gashani expressed their wish to benefit from İzmir's experience and drew attention to the importance of reciprocal visits and regular contacts.
Mayor Tugay stated that he is ready to share İzmir’s organizational experience with Kosovo. Tugay stated that joint initiatives in youth and sports will contribute to the future of relations between the two societies, and expressed that they are ready to provide the necessary support during Kosovo's preparation process for 2030 Mediterranean Games.
Tugay also highlighted that economic relations must be developed on the basis of mutual benefit, and stated that a stronger Türkiye and İzmir will contribute to Kosovo's development, while Kosovo's development will likewise contribute to Türkiye and İzmir.
Tugay emphasized that economic relations should also be developed on the basis of mutual benefit, stating that the strengthening of Türkiye and İzmir would contribute to Kosovo, and that Kosovo's development would also contribute to Türkiye and İzmir.
Proposal for joint events in culture and tourism
In the meeting held with the Minister of Culture and Tourism Saranda Bogujevci, joint projects to strengthen the historical and cultural ties between the two sides were discussed. Mayor Tugay noted that many families who migrated from Balkans, particularly from Kosovo and North Macedonia, live in İzmir, and stated that this social bond provides a strong foundation for initiatives in culture and tourism. Tugay drew attention to İzmir's historical heritage, archaeological sites, and tourism potential, and proposed to increase artist and student exchanges, joint concerts, and cultural events. Tugay reminded the concert held in 2022 at Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center where works by Kosovan, Turkish, and European composers were performed, and stated that similar joint projects can be redone again.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay proposed the organization of "Kosovo Days" or reciprocal culture and tourism days in İzmir and stated that a comprehensive program combining music, cinema, and gastronomy can be prepared.
Minister Bogujevci noted that addressing culture and tourism together can create new cooperation opportunities and expressed that they are ready to share experiences in cultural heritage, archaeology, and restoration. At the meeting, improving direct flights between İzmir and Pristina was also discussed and Bogujevci stated that direct transportation would strengthen relations between the business communities as well as culture and tourism.
Sectors to be identified for manufacturing and investment
In the meeting with the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation Mimoza Kusari-Lila, the concretization of contacts between business communities was emphasized.
Mayor Tugay stated their desire to organize a business forum that would bring together business people from İzmir and Kosovo. Tugay stated that the forum could be supported by cultural, artistic, and sporting events, and emphasized the need to identify priority sectors and match the right companies with them.
Kusari-Lila stated that the primary sector is manufacturing, and expressed that Kosovar companies can be matched with the firms in İzmir. Kusari-Lila stated that the food manufacturing and tourism sectors can also be integrated into the process, and recommended holding online meetings prior to the event to identify sectors and companies.
Mayor Tugay stated that along with the Free Trade Agreement between Türkiye and Kosovo, trade agreements that Kosovo holds with European countries offer significant opportunities for investment, and noted that can serve as an attractive manufacturing hub for Turkish and İzmir-based investors.
New contacts between local administrations
In his meeting with the Mayor of Lipjan Imri Ahmeti, Mayor Tugay suggested including universities and the business community in the cooperation between local administrations. He stated that agriculture, energy, industry, and machinery sectors could be evaluated as joint fields of collaboration, and expressed readiness to support entrepreneurs willing to invest.
Ahmeti stated that they attach great importance to establishing cooperation with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, and noted that student exchanges and mutual sharing of experience would be particularly beneficial.
In the meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Pristina Florian Dushi, developing relations between local administrations was addressed. Stating that he lived in İzmir between 1998–1999, Dushi shared his personal ties to the city. Dushi noted that Pristina is a rapidly developing city with a population of approximately 230 thousand, and stated that infrastructure investments occupy an important place on the municipal agenda.
Mayor Tugay suggested that a "Kosovo House" or Kosovo Cultural Center can be established in İzmir, proposing the development of joint projects in culture, arts, sports, and youth. Tugay proposed to organize an event in İzmir in the autumn that will bring together business, culture, and sports themes, and invited the Pristina delegation to İzmir.
Chambers of Commerce will bring the business world together
Mayor Tugay suggested holding a new event to bring the business communities of İzmir and Kosova together in his meeting with the President of Kosovo Chamber of Commerce Lulzim Rafuma. Tugay requested to bring together the business people from both sides into direct contact after the identification of priority sectors, and noted that they would be delighted to host Kosovan business people in İzmir
Rafuna stated that he had previously visited İzmir twice with Kosovan business people and got positive results from these contacts. Rafuna suggested identifying priority sectors to concretize the cooperation, and stated that relevant units within the chamber could contribute to this work.
President of Kosovo Rumelia Culture, Art, and Tourism Association Uğur Şengöz reminded that business days and business oriented meetings had previously been organized between the chambers of commerce of İzmir and Kosovo.
Preparation for Kosova Days in İzmir
One of the common themes of Mayor Tugay's contacts in Kosovo was to ensure that relations between the two sides are not confined solely to official meetings, but are expanded through events that bring societies directly together.
In this context, organizing "Kosova Days" or a widely attended Kosovo week in İzmir was proposed. In addition to events that will bring together music, cinema, gastronomy, sports, and tourism; artist and student exchanges were also discussed.
MayorTugay stated that relations could be placed on a more lasting foundation by increasing reciprocal visits and directly matching institutions on specific topics.
After the contacts in Kosovo, preparations are planned to begin for identifying priority ideas of collaborations between İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and relevant Kosovan institutions, bringing the business communities together, and organizing joint events in culture, sports, and tourism.
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