Others on us

on: 15 Sep 2016

ZERI

Arbana Xharra

In different times and circumstances, everything you see, read and understand you do it differently. Fourteen years ago, I was only 19 years old, when I started working as a journalist. A new journey for me full of challenges and uncertainties. Economy was the last sector I thought about covering for more than ten years during my career. I had no knowledge on economic issues, and less on reading the budget lines, or analyzing political interests through numbers.

But I found a door that was always open for me, and a group of experts that without hesitation would sit at the table to clarify what I needed to know, those that actually define essential problems of state building. At first I read them just as texts and statistics, I saw reports about conferences without realizing that this door mobilizes public opinion through the media on major economic issues.

Riinvest Institute for Development Research was not just an Institute for the publication of reports, analysis and research. It challenged the authorities with facts and arguments. Difficult circumstances of the transition period at the times when politics dominated the economy were constant challenges, but Riinvest - diligently continued its mission towards development policy advocacy, while staying with a magnifying glass, to anyone that came, fell, and returned to power again.

Dealing with degradation was not new for Riinvest because this institution had begun its activity in the worst possible time, that of Milosevic’s regime. Established in 1995, working for two decades, with dedication and professionalism, in partnership with international organizations, Riinvest has gradually become one of the most influential factors of economic issues in Kosovo’s public opinion.

In each period, for the past 20 years, Riinvest has never been submissive to the politics, but in contrary criticizing it by introducing findings before the public, whilst offering solutions through economic development strategies.

This institute was the instigator of debates on the investment environment in Kosovo, the degraded privatization process of social and public enterprises and so on. Riinvest, also brought a new spirit, unknown to the civil society in Kosovo, another model of providing solutions, followed by its weight and importance, by offering not only findings but also expertise in the various economic fields and alternative policies.

This institute gained its credibility with professionalism, testifying about country’s degradation with facts on the table, while meantime offering solutions to economic sustainability. For many years, Riinvest has led with initiatives, through public forums, conferences, debates, publication analysis. Its influence has grown along with experts that have developed within this institute. The first “think tank” institute of such nature in Kosovo opened its doors to a new generation, which grew and developed within it. “Riinvest”-has managed to present the most influential experts on economic issues in the country, the promoters of the new spirit of public discourse.

This institute remains the most credible address and plays a key role in opening debates on the country's economic challenges. Often times, Riinvest has changed the flow of economic events by opening public debates with impact on the most important events in Kosovo economic sectors.

Today, 20 years since its creation and 14 years since I have closely followed their work, I see, read and consider it as the most credible institution in the country. Riinvest has managed to install the highest standard of modern economic mentality in place!

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