IOM and UNDP, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Finland, have launched a project to encourage Kosovars abroad to
invest in the economic life of their communities of origin.

A historical Kosovar Albanian saying wishes every family six
sons; two to go abroad and work, two to take care of the family,
and two to die for their country. Estimates of the Kosovo diaspora
vary between 500,000 and 800,000. Some 98 per cent of migrants have
legal status in their country of residence and 89 per cent are
believed to have full time jobs.

The EUR 1.125 million Diaspora Engagement for Economic
Development (DEED) project to be launched in July will reach out to
Kosovars abroad, as well as the public and private sector in Kosovo
to develop and pilot mechanisms that will remove obstacles for
migrants wanting to invest in Kosovo.

Kosovo suffers from over 40 per cent unemployment and job
creation from inward investment could remove one of the reasons why
Kosovars choose to emigrate. Some 30 per cent of foreign direct
investment already comes from joint ventures with the diaspora.

In 2011, the Government of Kosovo recognized the importance of
engaging with their compatriots abroad at the highest level and
established the Ministry of Diaspora. Since its inception about a
year ago IOM has been providing technical support to help the
ministry consolidate and plan how to reach its constituents in the
diaspora.

For more information please contact 

Roberto Cancel

IOM Kosovo

Email: "mailto:rcancel@iom.int">rcancel@iom.int

Tel. +37745284563