Growth Takes More Than Capital
From economic potential to international competitiveness, the second edition of Lead the Future highlighted investment in people, technology, and innovation as key drivers of business growth in Kosovo.
Business growth, investment in capacity building, and greater competitiveness took centre stage at the second edition of “Lead the Future 2: Build. Scale. Compete.”, a conference organised by Banka për Biznes (BPB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The conference brought together around 300 local entrepreneurs, representatives of financial institutions, international partners, and experts to explore practical steps towards sustainable business growth in Kosovo.
Opening the conference, Mimoza Godanci-Aliu, Chief Executive Officer of BPB, emphasised that establishing a business is only the first step, while growth and competitiveness require continuous investment in technology, knowledge, and modern processes. Reaffirming BPB’s commitment to supporting businesses at every stage of their development, she stated: “We don’t just provide financing. We also provide know-how to the businesses that grow with us.”
Sergiy Maslichenko, Head of EBRD Kosovo, praised the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and dedication of local businesses, describing them as key pillars of economic development. “Business is a key driver of Kosovo’s success in the future,” he noted, adding that entrepreneurs need more than financing to realise their full potential. They also need access to advice and training. Maslichenko highlighted EBRD’s partnership with BPB, the first financial institution across the EBRD regions to join the Youth in Business programme and among the first to participate in Go Digital in the Western Balkans.
In a discussion on Kosovo’s competitiveness, Peter Bielik, Associate Director at EBRD, and Argjira Kadrijaj Dushi from BPB, examined how investment in skills, digitalisation and research and development can improve productivity and help businesses reach new markets. Representatives of Rroni Fer, Gerti Foods and Recura Financials shared lessons on expanding exports, planning investments and strengthening business processes in a pannel discussion moderated by Valon Canhasi from Hallakate.
BPB’s commitment to bringing international speakers to Kosovo was reflected in the keynote speech by Boris Shurija, an applied psychologist who explored the psychology of change and how people respond to stress. His session encouraged entrepreneurs to rethink their reactions to uncertainty and develop a more constructive approach to the pressures of leading and growing a business.
Reflecting on the rise of artificial intelligence, Shurija emphasised that as technology makes knowledge and technical capabilities increasingly accessible, human qualities such as critical judgement, empathy, curiosity, and creativity are becoming even more valuable. “When raw intelligence becomes cheap, you must rely on human qualities: judgment, empathy, connection, curiosity, and taste,” he noted.
The event continued with Lead Labs, a series of one-on-one sessions connecting entrepreneurs with industry experts, providing businesses with tailored professional advice on their challenges and future development plans.Tailored to each business’s needs, these sessions offered practical guidance on accessing finance and advisory services, helping turn growth ambitions into concrete next steps.
The event put in focus the EBRD’s Youth in Business and Go Digital in the Western Balkansprogrammes, delivered in partnership with BPB, and explored how access to finance, advice and training can help businesses put their growth plans into practice.
Youth in Business combines financing and advisory support for young entrepreneurs, with support from the EU, Italy and Luxembourg. While, Go Digital in the Western Balkans combines financing with EU-funded technical assistance and grant incentives of 10 per cent of the eligible loan amount.
Through the second edition of Lead the Future, BPB and EBRD reaffirmed their commitment to supporting sustainable business growth in Kosovo, combining access to finance with knowledge, expertise, and development opportunities. The conference delivered a clear message: Kosovo has strong entrepreneurial potential, but turning that potential into long-term competitiveness requires continuous investment in people, technology, and innovation.
