Agim Veliu, Mayor of Podujevo
Agim Veliu, Mayor of Podujevo

Agim Veliu, Mayor of Podujevo, discusses the municipality’s significant investment attractions.

“Agriculture and tourism are the two sectors with the biggest FDI potential. Podujevo is the biggest municipality in Kosovo in area, covering 635 sq km, and half of this is good agricultural land.”

European Times: How has Podujevo changed during your six years as mayor?

Agim Veliu: My team and I have focussed on making Podujevo a nicer place to live in. We have completed a number of infrastructure projects, including building roads connecting all areas in the municipality. We have built a new water and sewerage system and we have also renovated schools, built parks and other green areas, created a new bank for the river and built a new bridge. We financed most of these projects with the city’s own funds.

European Times: What are you planning for the future?

Agim Veliu: We have prepared a feasibility study for building a major sewerage treatment plant for around €15 million, and we are looking for a donor or partner to help us complete this project.

European Times: What does Podujevo offer foreign investors?

Agim Veliu: We have a great location close to both the border and the capital and served by a good road. We expect that in the future a major motorway will pass through our municipality, which will further improve our advantages. Agriculture and tourism are the two sectors with the biggest FDI potential. Podujevo is the biggest municipality in Kosovo in area, covering 635 sq km, and half of this is good agricultural land. Part of the rest of the land can be used for building facilities to raise livestock. Podujevo also has tourism potential thanks to Batlava Lake and our beautiful mountains. We have also put aside 37 hectares for an industrial zone and we are currently looking for a partner to help us build the infrastructure for this zone.

European Times: How easy is it to open a business in Podujevo?

Agim Veliu: As mayor I have tried to do everything in my power to streamline the process of opening a business here. We also support new businesses with land, and we were the first municipality in the country to create an office to register new businesses here. We have many success stories, including juice-producer Laberion, recognised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as one of the country’s most successful companies, and Agroproduct, which processes and sells food products.

European Times: What is your personal message to potential investors?

Agim Veliu: Podujevo has an excellent location, good infrastructure and services, a youthful, advantageously priced labour market and a municipal government which aims to support the business sector.