By Binsal Abdulkader
ABU DHABI, 21st April, 2022 (WAM) — Kosovo wants to strengthen the existing overall bilateral cooperation with the UAE, especially in education and investment sectors, the young Eastern European nation’s new envoy told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
“No doubt that Kosovo can benefit from the UAE’s educational system, particularly in the field of IT, medical technology and many other fields of advanced studies. UAE is not only regionally but also globally known for including in its educational system the world’s best experts and expertise,” said Xhabir Hamiti, who took charge as the Ambassador of Kosovo to the UAE in December.
Youngsters build bridges
Kosovan students are studying in different universities in the UAE, he pointed out, adding that youngsters always build bridges with rest of the world. “We have a very talented youth generation in IT and remote workforce who are interested to exchange knowledge with other people and countries. In sports also Kosovo is known for having a few professional football players around Europe and Olympic Champions in woman categories in Judo.”
The Western Balkan country, which was part of former Yugoslavia, became independent in 2008. “The UAE stood with Kosovo and its people on our darkest moments during the war in 1999, that solidarity we will never forget!” the ambassador affirmed.
Priorities as envoy
Hamiti said Kosovo-UAE bilateral relations have been and are on the highest level. “However, there are always areas where we can cooperate and share our common interest, in present and in the future.”
Strengthening the existing bilateral cooperation between two countries is his first priority, Hamiti emphasised.
“The second priority during my mission here will be in creating new possibilities and opportunities for Emirati investors and investments that can be present in Kosovo market. Kosovo offers very good trade opportunities for foreign investors and is geographically situated in the heart of the Balkans, positioned in a very strategic part from where people and goods can be easily connected with western and eastern countries as well,” the envoy explained.
Tourism promotes people-to-people ties
Tourist traffic between two countries and a small community of Kosovans living in the UAE help enhance the people-to-people relations, the ambassador said.
“We have a quite good number of tourists coming from Kosovo to UAE, particularly during the winter and spring season. Emirati citizens are also coming to our country during the summer season. Kosovo is known for its beautiful nature, high mountains, long rivers and a rich menu of traditional food.”
Among the Kosovans living in the UAE, some of them are medical doctors, experts and engineers working in airports, trainers of martial arts such as judo and karate, and university students. There are some small Kosovan companies in food supply and electricity sectors, he said.
Cooperation in climate change
“The close cooperation between Kosovo and UAE in climate action will be very beneficial for my country, therefore, we are looking forward to exchange with UAE the best practices in this direction,” the ambassador asserted.
He congratulated the UAE for winning the bid to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Abu Dhabi in 2023.
Professor turned envoy
As a professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies by profession, this is Hamiti’s first posting as the ambassador.
“Being a university professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, no doubt that this helps me quickly socialise with this country and its people who speak the language that I studied and taught prior in schools and universities in my country and beyond. I can say that I’m deeply impressed with this country’s achievements in all dimensions of life, and particularly how fast it has progressed and advanced in a very short time of its history.”
