Natural resources as a factor of economic growth in Kosovo

AuthorHaki Shatri
PositionEuropean University of Tirana
Pages140-148
IIPCCL Publishing, Tirana-Albania
Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences Vol. 1 No. 3
November 2015
ISSN 2410-3918
Acces online at www.iipccl.org
140
Natural resources as a factor of economic growth in Kosovo
PhD (C.) Haki Shatri
European University of Tirana
Abstract
In the history of the economic growth, there are numerous examples of countries that have
developed based on their available natural resources. Especially, these assets have been the
propulsion of the development in the initial period. But we also find some cases where countries
with limited natural resources have experienced dynamic economic development. Kosovo is
the last federal unit dismembered from former Yugoslavia after a decade under Milosevic’s
Serbian regime and a two years’ war. International intervention and the inclusion of the country
under an international protectorate created the conditions for the development of devastated
economy by war and the robbery to be recovered together with the creation of institutional
and economic infrastructure (Lidhja e Ekonomistëve të Kosovës, 1996). Under these conditions,
everything had to start from scratch. The only development factor that Kosovo possessed was
the human factor - age structure and the abundant natural resources, especially in key sectors
such as the energy and in mining and minerals, agriculture and tourism.
Thus it is sustainable the conclusion that “The rapid and sustainable economic and social
development of Kosovo depends substantially from the implementation of the appropriate
policies and suitable economic reforms that enable more rational use of its natural and human
resources”. The list of the available resources of Kosovo is long. Kosovo possesses significant
amount of all mineral raw materials in both quality and quantity terms. Among the most
important raw materials have been ranked the power-lignite mining that is stretched into
three basins and it is estimated to be around 9 billion exploitable tons (Kelmendi, 2012). Kosovo
also owns mineral resources which are found in the Trepca’s Metals basin. The geological
researches show favorable conditions of exploitation and high quality of the ore. Mainly one
can found the lead, zinc, silver and other accompanying products like bauxite, iron-nickel,
manganese, copper, chromium and rare metals (The Republic of Kosovo Government, 2009).
The mining industry around the world is increasing. Production and consumption of the energy
as well. Prices on the world market with the exception of small tremors are favorable. Therefore
the country needs development policies based on the use of these resources since they can
become the sector for economic development of the country in the future.
Keywords: Resources, Kosovo, Development, Minerals, Energy.
Introduction
Kosovo is a country with many natural resources. So far, these resources have not
been exploited for the benefit of the development of the country, on the contrary, in
all periods since the ancient history until the independence of the country in June
1999, these assets were the cause of many unfortunate events caused by the greed of
the enemies for robbery purposes. Like the whole history of humanity, which in fact
it is the history of wars for stealing the assets of the occupied peoples, through all the
eras of development and up to date (Gusia, 2010).
In economic theory there are different views about the role of natural resources in

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