The two-day visit of minister Redzepi and the delegation if Kosovo has taken place. On this occasion, the fifth agreement among municipalities of Kosovo and cities of IOWA has been formalized.
Cooperation between the two states has begun within the cooperation of the United States National Guard and KSF aiming at building capacities, at equipping the force with skills and at professionalizing it, but since last year this cooperation has focused on enhancing the partnership among municipalities of Kosovo and cities of IOWA while deepening the cooperation in the areas of local economic development, education, culture and employment.
MLGA in cooperation with municipalities, the consulate of Kosovo in IOWA and state representatives of Iowa has provided support and has coordinated inter-municipal global cooperation through twinning of cities of IOWA where 5 initiatives have been finalized. Those initiatives include: cooperations between municipalities Prishtinë- City of Des Moines, Vushtrri – Fort Dodge and Gjilan-Sioux City.
MLGA is currently coordinating the accomplishment of two other agreements between municipality of Podujeva and City of Ames and municipality of Prizren and Iowa City. Areas of cooperation within the achieved agreements are: e-governance, cultural, economic and academic cooperation.
Throughout the visit of Kosovo’s delegation in Iowa, information and achieved results have been exchanged including: exchanging practices in the fields of education and youth within which 10 students of nursery will pursue their studies in DMACC University. Moreover, it was discussed about donations to athletics, wrestling, football and basketball teams.
The delegation – led by Ms. Redzepi has been received in special meetings by representatives of central and local institutions of the state of IOWA.
Senator and head foreign policy Zach Nuun has thanked Minister Redzepi and has awarded her with a certificate of recognition for the commitment MLGA has shown thus far in formalizing cooperation and in achieving results. Furthermore, State Secretary Paul Pate confirmed his support to the continuation of the cooperation, while Minister Redzepi assured him for the opportunity of opening a coordination office in Prizren that will carry the coordination of all activities.
In the meeting with President of DMAAC, Minister Redzepi confirmed her support to facilitate the process with Ministry of Education and Municipality of Prizren to utilize the spaces that were previously used by KFOR, and to seek opportunities to develop youth projects in the fields of innovation and IT in cooperation with DMAAC.
In addition, throughout this visit the discussions on the upcoming visit of Iowa’s governor, group of businesspeople and universities in Kosovo foreseen to take place in June 2020 have been finalized.
During this visit the immense support and assistance from the state of Iowa in increasing cooperation in the areas of seasonal employment, student exchange and cooperation in the fields of education and culture was confirmed.
Minister has invited publicly american companies and investors to invest in Kosovo, as a strategic country in the region having great potential of the young labour force.
Minister thanked the Head of Mission Artan Duraku for his extraordinary commitment on advancing the partnership between Kosovo and Iowa.