Administrator Samantha Power at a Solar Auction Launch in Kosovo

ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER: Thank you so much Prime Minister Kurti and thank you Minister Rizvanolli. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is, not only to be back in Kosovo for the first time in around 25 years — a little less than 25 years — but to be here on a day like this – when we have the opportunity to launch something so important, so powerful, such an emblem as well for the direction that Kosovo and its economy and its leaders are taking. And I just feel really, really honored to be here on behalf of President Biden and our Administration.

My visit so far has made me very optimistic about not where Kosovo is going. I again, having not been here in 25 years, I can see how far it has come. That's an incredible tribute to the people of Kosovo and their resilience and their dynamism and their determination to build an inclusive democracy and a prosperous democracy.

Yesterday, I had the chance to sample some delicious ajvar made by women farmers who are creating jobs at home and expanding Kosovo’s reach with exports across Europe. I visited, as well, last night here in Pristina, an innovation hub and heard brilliant young Kosovan tech entrepreneurs describe their ideas for potentially game-changing startups. And this morning, I went for a hike in Pristina’s largest park with young peacemakers who are bridging divides between Kosovan Serbs and Kosovan Albanians. This was very very moving to hear the efforts they are making to step into the shoes of the other, and understand the lived experiences of people that often they’ve not had the chance to interact with as fulsomely as they now are. And that, of course, is going to be an incredible foundation for enduring peace, and enduring prosperity here in Kosovo. I heard in these conversations a clear vision: a Kosovo with a thriving, inclusive economy, driven by innovation, offering opportunities for people of all backgrounds.

And now, again, it is wonderful to join you at this solar auction launch — because one thing is clear, as we discussed with the Minister who has shown such leadership in this area – Kosovo’s bright future is not going to be powered by the energy of the past. There is just no question about that.

With the blackouts that disrupt daily life. I mentioned I was with these very savvy tech entrepreneurs, and we were having great discussions about their ideas and how they could take them on the road and how they could penetrate different markets and then the power went out. And I know that that is something that the people of this country experience often.

As well, the air pollution that has for so long undermined people’s health. The price spikes that force families sometimes to choose between making ends meet and staying warm in some unforgiving winter temperatures.

Fortunately, we have seen this incredibly strong and important commitment from Kosovo’s leaders to begin an energy transformation – one that I hope can serve as a model for other nations embarking on similar journeys.

They started by setting clear and ambitious but achievable goals – like the target in the National Energy Strategy that President [Prime Minister] Kurti mentioned, which USAID was glad to help develop, for 35 percent of Kosovo’s energy to come from renewables by 2031.

Then, with these goals in place, we worked together to harness the power of new technologies. In selecting the site for this new solar project, the Ministry of Economy and USAID used drones to map and analyze the slopes and angles of the land, and calculate how much solar energy various plots would produce. We selected the Kramovik because it receives enough consistent sun exposure to power more than 20,000 households.

And now, Kosovos’ leaders are drawing in the private sector to drive investment at scale. The global renewable energy market is set to reach two trillion dollars by 2030, and companies are ready, willing, and able to invest – if governments provide the transparency, the partnership, and the level playing field that they need to do business.

And that is exactly what the auction here will do. In neighboring countries, we have seen these auctions boost investor confidence and accelerate the development of new energy projects.

So we expect this auction in fact to be the first of many. It will help get citizens a cleaner, cheaper, more reliable source of energy, fast. And it will send a clear signal to companies looking to invest in economies powered by sustainable innovation that Kosovo is open for business.

I want to join the Prime Minister in his appreciation, again, and his thanks to Minister Rizvanolli for her leadership, her persistence, and her vision on this endeavor. USAID has been so very fortunate to work with such a dynamic and willing partner, and I look forward to many more collaborations with her and her colleagues in the future.

USAID has been committed to Kosovo’s success since the time this country was born. That commitment lives on to this day. Together, we will continue to work to boost economic growth, to strengthen democracy, and help Kosovo to take its rightful place among European and Euro-Atlantic institutions – to keep working toward that vision that I heard from so many – of a prosperous, peaceful, and inclusive Kosovo.

Thank you so much.