 ACTIVITIES AND PROFILE |
| I INTRODUCTION |
The Riinvest Institute for Development Research is a private non-profit research institute and has been operating since May 1995. Its mission is to promote the modern economic development of Kosova based on a philosophy of entrepreneurship. As the first private research and think tank organization established in Kosova, RIINVEST has achieved a solid position and is cooperating with different segments of Kosovar society as well as various international organizations.
Riinvest's current activities include the following:
· Research
· Economic Studies and Analyses;
· Public Administration and Legal Studies;
· SME Development;
· Business Support Services
· Business/Management Education;
· Consulting;
· Advocacy.
· Publications
In developing its activities and capacities, Riinvest has been supported in particular by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) from Washington through USAID and NED; the Department for International Development (DFID) from the UK; UNDP, the Open Society Institute, Budapest; World Bank; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Bonn; and the Kosova Foundation for Open Society (KFOS), Prishtina.
Riinvest Institute has approved its Strategic Plan 2001-2005 and developed his Business Plan 2002-2003 aiming its dynamic growth and world -class standards.
| II ACTIVITIES |
Riinvest has implemented a broad range of activities including economic and business research, surveys, seminars, and business training and consulting. Key initiatives are described below.
 1. Promoting Economic Development Through Civil Society (2000/2002) Funded by USAID |
This project is being implemented in cooperation with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) in Washington, D.C. and is supported by USAID. Project objectives are to: (i) increase the organization and capacities of the business community to participate in a dialogue on key economic policy issues; and (ii) strengthen the research and institutional capacities of Riinvest.
Activities implemented to date have included:
(1) The establishment of a Business Advisory Board, consisting of business leaders and policy experts, to discuss, on a regular basis, key economic policy issues.
(2) Research undertaken by Riinvest and widely disseminated, in the areas of ownership transformation and taxation policy. Further project research to include SME finance, Commercial Law framework, the informal sector, and social impacts of economic transition.
(3) Organization of an International Roundtable Forum series (4 sessions already organized), to promote dialogue between the international community, public administration in Kosova, Kosovar experts, the business community and civil society, on economic reform priorities. A Roundtable event is being held once every three months with approximately 100 participants. Issues addressed to date have been ownership transformation and taxation policy.
(4) Outreach activity to Kosovar business associations, including training and technical assistance.
| 1. Delta Project |
Supported by WB-IFC in cooperation with Open Society Institute in Budapest is aiming to build capacities at the municipal level for SME development including strategy for local-economic development and its implementation. Seven municipalities are included in a pilot phase during 2002.
| 2. Early Warning System |
Supported by UNDP during this year will produce three reports on potential sources of crises in Kosova society including economic, social, political and interethnic aspects.
| 3. Environmental Protection Trainee Program |
Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BHZ) in cooperation with CDG, Koln through 9 months program will enable 10 Kosovar experts for environmental management in public administration-economic administration and environmental institutions including corporate level.
Report Assessment on Current Situation of Child Rights in Kosova
Supported by UNICEF focused on assessing selected problems concerning shortfalls in the realization of rights of children and women(access to education, health, human rights, gender issues).
| 4. Obstacles to Trade, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness |
A regional project coordinated by Chesapeake, Washington D.C., and supported by USAID, in cooperation with ACER-Tirana, AME-Skopje, IME-Sofia, ISSP-Podgorica included a survey of 125 companies (25 from Kosova) and 10 case studies (2 from Kosova) and final report on main obstacles to trade and investment in the region seen from the company's perspective.
| 5. Survey of 192 Socially Owned Enterprises |
Supported by USAID. A database on current situation at the socially owned enterprises (level of activity, personnel, assets, trade and financial situation) was created.
| 6. SME surveys: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
A panel yearly survey of 300-private SME followed by Report and very comprehensive database on SME profile, activity, environment, presenting also business community opinions on relevant issues concerning business and institutional environment. Survey in December 2001 included 600 private business entities. CIPE, NED, USAID and Friedriech Ebert Stiftung supported this activity
| 7. SME Credit Demand (2000) |
A survey of 110 companies on credit demand supported by World Bank and European Agency for Reconstruction, on preliminary activities for establishing ICU (Interim Credit Unit).
| 8. Training Needs Assessment for Local Administration Officials in Kosova (2000) |
This work consisted of a study to establish a training center, for the Open Society Institute, Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative, Budapest.
| 9. Building Local Government Institutions (1999-2000) |
Starting in July 1999, in cooperation with the Open Society Institute (Budapest), Riinvest implemented a project entitled "Establishment and Functioning of Local Administration in Kosova". This project described the experiences of local government institutions in Kosova between 1990-1999 and proposed a new model of local administration that addressed the necessity of building a multicultural society, ensuring the participation of citizens in governance, and promoting local economic development initiatives. The project was completed in March, 2000.
| 10. Post-War Renewal and Reconstruction of Kosova - Strategy and Policies (1999/2000) |
The objective of this project was to outline the reconstruction strategy and policies that would:
· Increase the capacities of local human and other resources to participate in the reconstruction process;
· Complete, as soon as possible, the emergency phase of reconstruction dominated by humanitarian aid, and to commence with the substantial phase of reconstruction and development.
This project consisted of the following subprojects:
(1) Survey of 3500 families on the war consequences on family economies and businesses;
(2) Establishing task forces for analyzing the situation in 18 key economic sectors (social/state-owned);
(3) Research Report: Post-war Reconstruction and Renewal of Kosova;
(4) International Conference - Presentation of research report on project findings.
| 11. Business Education Network in Kosova (1999/2000) |
This project focused on:
· Public education institutions (reforming the curricula, improvement of textbooks, introducing new teaching methods);
· Development of private initiatives in business education;
· Advocating for the establishment of 7 Regional Centers for Entrepreneurship.
The following activities were implemented:
(1) Survey of 500 secondary school students and 500 University students about current problems in business education;
(2) Riinvest's Summer School on Enterpreneurship (August, 1999. Attended by 30 participants. Subjects: Entrepreneurship Policy, Business Planning and Implementation, Business Computerization, SME Development Strategy in Kosova. Teaching language - English. Resource people: 4 foreign professors and Riinvest).
(3) Riinvest's School of Economy and Finance (October, 1999; Attended by 28 students. Subjects: Selected Topics in Economy, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Transitional Economics, Development Strategy of Kosova. Teaching language: English. Resource people: 4 foreign professors and Riinvest staff).
(4) Workshops
:
· Business Education in Secondary Schools (April 2000)
· Business Education at the University (April 2000)
· The Role of the Media in Business Education. (May, 2000)
| 12. Training Courses |
· Business Establishment and Business Plan for 20 returnees from Germany and Austria, September, 2000;
· Business Establishment and Business Plan for 20 returnees from Germany and Austria, January, 2001;
· Business Plan for 15 Kosovar businessmen, May, 2001.
| 13. Business support services |
Consulting services included in house consulting for 10 companies in business planning and managerial issues.
| 14. Economic System and Development Strategy (1998) |
The project entitled "Economic Activities and Democratic Development of Kosova", consisted of several components (Economic System of an Open Market Economy; Development Strategy and SME Generation; Entrepreneurship; Business Education; Kosova and Integration). This resulted in a research report published in October 1998. RIINVEST advocated for building an institutional infrastructure to support an open market economy, and for increasing the amount of information about economic aspects of the issue of Kosova's status. The wide range of recommendations as a result of this intensive research activity covered key areas such as:
· Transition and economic system for an open market economy;
· Development strategy;
· Supportive infrastructure for SMEs;
· Business education;
· Peacemaking and building up democratic institutions.
| III CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS ORGANIZED BY RIINVEST |
Riinvest has a long tradition in organizing conferences and seminars on issues impacting the development of Kosova. This includes the following:
1) International Round Table Forum: Selected aspects of the Social Situation and Development of the pension system (December 12, 2001)
2) International Roundtable Forum: SME Financing and Development (September 28, 2001)
3) International Roundtable Forum: "Key Issues in Building a Taxation Policy in Kosova" (June 2001, Prishtina).
4) Workshop: "Local Public Finance", organized by the Kosova Foundation for Open Society (SOROS), (May 2001).
5) International Roundtable Forum: "Socially Owned Enterprises and their Privatization" (March 2001, Prishtina).
6) International conference: "Post - War Reconstruction of Kosova (Strategy and Policies" (March 2000, Prishtina).
7) "Social Problems after the War in Kosova and Transition" (December, 1999: 10 papers presented, 25 participants).
8) "Experiences in the Functioning of Local Administration Institutions in Kosova 1990-1999" (November, 1999: 8 papers presented, 24 participants).
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9) "Post-war Renewal and Reconstruction of Kosova - Policies and Management" (July, 1999: 33 papers presented, 85 participants).
10) "Regional Cooperation, Integration Perspectives and the Issue of Kosova" (March, 1999: 32 papers presented, 75 participants).
11) "Business Education in Kosova" (September, 1998: 25 papers, 35 participants).
12) "Development Strategy of Private Economy - SME generation in Kosova" (July, 1998: 24 papers, 40 participants).
13) "The Economic System of Open Economy and Transition in Kosova" (May, 1998: 22 papers, participants 37).
14) "Computerization of the Economy of Kosova" (January, 1998: 27 papers, 42 participants).
15) "Private Initiative, Entrepreneurship and Partnership in Kosova" (October, 1997).
| IV INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION |
Development and expansion of project activities have created more possibilities for cooperation with other international institutions. These include:
· CEMAN (Central and East European Management Development Association), in which Riinvest has become a member
· Global Forum on Management Education Network "GLEN"
· Global Development Network Initiative
· CIPE's s Freedom Network
· USAID - KBS
· Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies
· ACER-Tirana
· AME-Skopje
· IME-Sofia
· ISSP-Podgorica
During the past two years, Riinvest has developed communication and cooperation with a number of foreign partners, in particular:
· Sloven Institute for Management, Ljubljana
· The Center for Economic and Social Studies - Tirana
| V RIINVEST PUBLICATIONS |
Since 1996 Riinvest has produced an extensive list of publications, including the following:
1. Directory of Business Financing in Kosova, 2002
2. SME Development in Kosova-2000 (Annual Report 2000), 2001
3. "SME Finance - A Regional Perspective", Research Report, 2001.
4. "SME Financing and Development", Research Report, 2001.
5. "Key Issues in Building a Taxation Policy in Kosova", Research Report, 2001.
6. "Socially Owned Enterprises and their
Transformation/Privatization", Research Report, 2001.
7. "Post-War Reconstruction of Kosova - Strategy and Policies", Research Report, 2001.
8. "War Consequences and Reconstruction on 193 Socially Owned Enterprises", Survey Report, 2000.
9. "Socially Owned Enterprises Privatization", Research Report, 2001.
10. "Post - War Reconstruction of Kosova (Strategy and Policies), Research Report, 2001.
11. "War Consequences and SME Development", Survey Report, 2000.
12. "War Consequences and SME Development", Survey Report, 1999.
13. "War Consequences on Family Economies and Businesses", Survey Report, 1999.
14. "Establishment and Functioning of Local Government Institutions in Kosova", Project Team, 2000.
15. "Post-War Renewal and Reconstruction of Kosova", Collection of Papers, 1999.
16. "Development Strategy of Kosova and SME Generation", Collection of Papers, 1999.
17. "The Economic System of Open Economy and Transition in Kosova", Collection of Papers, 1998.
18. "Principles of Marketing", Dr. Nexhmi Rexha & Dr. Nail Reshidi, 1998.
19. "Business Decision Making", Dr. Ibrahim Kuka, 1998.
20. "Economic Activities and Democratic Development of Kosova", Project Team, 1998.
21. "The Financial Market", Dr. Fadil Govori, 1998.
22. "Economic System and the Development of Kosova", Dr. Muhamet Sadiku, 1998.
23. "Kosova's Diaspora Saving Mobilization", Dr. Fadil Govori, 1998.
24. "Management of Investment Projects", Dr. Muhamet Mustafa, 997.
25. "Promotion", Dr. Nail Reshidi, 1997.
26. "Marketing Research", Dr. Nail Reshidi, 1997.
27. "Business, Problems and Perspective", Team of Authors, 1996.
28. "English-Albanian and Albanian-English Dictionary of Marketing Terms", Dr. Nexhmi Rexha, 1996.
| VI.RIINVEST'S STAFF |
1. Muhamet Mustafa, Ph.D. President of Riinvest. ( Development strategy and SME development). Professor of Cybernetics and Informatics at Faculty of Economics at Prishtina University. He was minister coordinator for the development policy and planing in the Government of former Yugoslavia (1986-1989), Minister for Development of Kosova's government (1984-1986), Director of the Found for Road Construction in Kosova (1981-1984). Author of The books: "Income Policy and Productivity (1981), "Organization of the Investment System and the Economic Development of Kosova" (1985), "Cybernetics in Economy (1989, 1990), " Cybernetics and Introduction to Informatics" (1995), "Management of Investment Projects (1997); author of many papers published in various professional and scientific magazines and presented in symposiums and conferences; Vice president of Association of Economists of Kosova. Leader of the Projects realized by Riinvest.
2. Muhamet Sadiku, Ph.D. Executive Directory of Riinvest (Economic Policy and Economic Analyses). He was researcher in Institute for Planing of Government of Kosova, (1981-1985) adviser of General directory of Trepca corporation (1985-1986), adviser of the Government of former Yugoslavia (1986-1990), author of several published papers concerning economic system and economic policy, transition and privatization problems and recently a book "Economic System and Development of Kosova". Coordinator of the project's realized by Riinvest.
3. Ilaz Ramajli, Lawyer. Administrative director (Public Administration). Previous experiences: Secretary of Forestry administration - Kaçanik (1979-1981), President judge in Kaçanik (1982-1986) , Member and Secretary of Government of Kosova (1986-1989), Vice President of the Parlament of Kosova (1989 - 1991) President of the Parlament of Republic of Kosova (1991-1992), Head of the Office of Republic of Kosova in Albania ( 1995-1999) , Project leader, author of several articles on legal and public fields, privatization local administration and juridical system in Kosova.
4. Isa Mustafa, Ph.D. in Economics. Senior researcher. Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economy in Prishtina. Previous experiences: President of the Government of Prishtina municipality (1984 - 1988); Member of the Government of Kosova and Director of Department for Development and Planning of Kosova (1988 - 1990); Minister of Finance of republic of Kosova (1990 - 1999).
5. Ekrem Beqiri, Ph.D. Riinvest consultant and professor at the Faculty of Mining and Metallurgy. President of the Kosova Soros Foundation Board. He is experience in environmental engineering, socio-demographic analysis, education analysis, human capacity building, human rights issues. He has published tens of articles and books related to engineering, economy, chemical environmental engineering etc.
6. Haki Shatri, MSc Economist. Project Manager (Local and Regional Development) Head of the Department of Regional Development of the Institute for Planing of Kosova (1984-1990). He participated in the research projects concerning the problems of regional development, employment, and population policy. Author of the papers presented in Symposiums and Conferences for the regional development.
7. Sejdi Osmani, Lawyer . Project Manager ( Legal and Public Studies and Publications) . He was assistant of the General Directory of the Institute for Statistics of Kosova (1982-1986), head of the Department for Taxis and Public Incomes in Prishtina municipality (1986-1990). Author of papers concerning fiscal policy and fiscal system, several articles on legal and public fields, privatization local administration and public services. Experienced in publications: Chief editor for Weekly Youth Magazine "Zëri i Rinisë" (Voice of youth, 1978-1982), Project cordinator in several projects.
8. Ymer Havolli PhD. in Economics. Project Manger at Riinvest (Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Bussines Education). Has worked at Accounting Center in a mining company (1981-1990). Teacher at secondary school of economics in Prishtina (1992-2000); author of a bookon commercial aspects of business. Has published papers on human resources management and earned an MBA in with this specialization. Has completed Ph.D. in Human Resource Management in SMEs in Kosova.
9. Avdullah Hoti, Assistant researcher: SME Development and Business Education . MA Student at the Stffordshire University, U.K,
10. Isa Mulaj, Assistant researcher . Student at the PhD Distance Program at Staffordshire University - UK ( Transition Economics).
11. Albana Gashi, Assistant Researcher ( Business Education and Data Processing) , postgraduate student at Management,
12. Petrit Gashi, Assistant Researcher - Information Systems and Data Base Management. MA Student at the Staffordshire University, U.K,
13. Salvador Bajrami, Researcher- Economist, Business Supoort Services,
14. Afërdita Berisha, Researcher- part time, Assistant at the Faculty of Economy- Management Information System
15. Venera Demukaj, Assistant Researcher- Economist , Business Support Services
16. Besa Zogaj, Assistant Researsher - Economist, Social Policy and Taxation
17. Gazmend Ahmeti, Assistant Researcher- Economist, Marketing
18. Durim Hoxha, Assistant Researcher- Economist, Privatization and Publications
19. Besnik Krasniqi, Assistant Researcher- Economist, Macroeconomic Analyses
20. Eranda Basholli, Administrative Assistant
21. Mirsad Mustafa, Sales Officer
22. Mensur Mustafa, Technical Assistant
| VII RIINVEST CONSULTANTS |
Riinvest has worked with a variety of local and international consultants, experts, and researchers on numerous projects. Its cooperation includes with the following:
Domestic consultants include 30 experts of different profiles
International experts:
· Prof. Iraj Hashi, Staffordshire University, United Kingdom
· Jim O'Neill, Staffordshire University, United Kingdom
· Dr. Maciej Grabowski, Gdansk Institute for Market Economics, Poland
· Dr. James F. Skyrms - Amicus - USA,
· Dr. Ger Yonkergouw , Creating Solutions, Mastricht
· Laszlo Kallay, Institute for Small Business Development, Hungary
· Rose Cohan, USA
| Business Plan Products |
Ø Annual Report on Economic Trends
Ø Quarterly Report on Economic Trends
Ø Annual Report on Public Administration Effectiveness
Ø Annual SME Reasearch Report
Ø SME Finance Directory
Ø Investment Profile of Kosova
Ø Company and Sector Profiles/by request
Ø Round Tables: Discussions
Ø Public Administration Seminar
Ø International Conference
Ø Summer School on Enterpreneurship
Ø Consulting/Business Plan, Strategic Plan, Marketing Plan, Leadership, Human Resource Management
Ø Consulting/Legal assistance
Ø Start-up/Business Plan Seminar
Ø Top Manager Briefings
Ø Understanding Needs and Opportunities of SME - Seminar for banks and nonbanking financial institutions
Ø Monthly Magazine - starting from June/September 2002
Ø Books/Reports |
