An Austrian delegation visited the Municipalities of Podujeva and Obiliq

Under the coordination of Mr Besnik Tahiri, Executive Director of the Kosovo Local Government Institute, and Mr Gunther Fehlinger, head of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, a delegation of senior municipal representatives from Austria today visited the Municipalities of Podujeva and Obiliq.

In separate meetings with the Mayor of Obiliq, Mr Xhafer Gashi, and the Deputy Mayor of Podujeva, Mr Nexhmi Rudari, the Austrian delegation, consisting of Mr Karl Grammantisch, Mayor of Lasse and also a representative of the Association of Austrian Municipalities, and Mr Wolfgang Grossruck, former President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and former mayor of Grieskrichen, were briefed closely on the functioning of the municipalities, their challenges and the progress achieved.

In the meetings, Mr Tahiri and Mr Fehlinger raised for discussion the possibility of cooperation on many levels between Austrian Municipalities and those in Kosovo. The dean of UBT College, Edmond Hajrizi, also contributed to the meetings, given the contribution he and UBT are making to deepening cooperation in the field of education between the two countries.

Particular attention during these visits was paid to aspects related to the role of the municipality in local economic development and cooperation with local actors. At the end of the visits it was stressed that these meetings will serve as a new focus for mutual cooperation in economic and social development.