Gry Helene Stavseng, Michael J. Murphy, Jan Braathu and the participants from the Android training. Photo: ICK

Innovation Center Kosovo - Business Tuesday

Last updated: 26/01/2012 // ”It’s the economy, stupid”. With these well-known words from the Clinton election campaign, the Norwegian Ambassador to Kosovo, Mr. Jan Braathu, opened his speech on the need for enterprise development in a transition country such as Kosovo. Talking to young innovators and entrepreneurs at the first Business Tuesday, arranged by Innovation Center Kosovo (ICK), Mr. Braathu underscored how jobs and employment are crucial for the success and prosperity of a country. This is why Norway and the Embassy will support ICK and Business Tuesday one hundred per cent in the time ahead.

In this forum, young Kosovars were gathered to learn, share ideas and get input on business opportunities in the Kosovo market. ICK, that is to be opened the upcoming spring, attempts to stimulate innovation and the Business Tuesday is one of the center’s activities that are to be arranged. Having a business incubator, ICK will help entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and to gain success. “To create success, both competition and cooperation are necessary and this makes ICK and its events very important”, Ambassador Braathu emphasized in his speech to the audience and the energetic participants.

In his speech, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S Embassy, Michael J. Murphy, said that he believes in private sector led growth and that ICK and its initiatives are of great importance for developing and increasing businesses in Kosovo – a country that has a young population with good English language skills. Mr. Murphy also said that including women is critical for development, pointing to the women behind the establishment of ICK, Athene Project Management and especially its leader, Gry Helene Stavseng, who opened and welcomed the participants to the forum, the first Business Tuesday in Prishtina.

Joan de Boer for Sprigs, a Dutch web and mobile development company, presented the Android trainings outcome from the hands-on training taking place in advance of the forum. Certificates were awarded, something Ambassador Braathu and Mr. Murphy did with great pleasure, reading out the names of the inspired, young participants. As Gry Helene Stavseng pointed out, several of these had already gotten jobs based on their technological skills.

The Norwegian Embassy would like to congratulate the participants and the organizers in ICK for an inspiring first Business Tuesday. The Ambassador is looking forward to the continuation and to the opening of the Innovation Center in Prishtina.

Innovation Center Kosovo launched Wominnovation in September 2011 and organized Startup Weekend Prishtina in December 2011.

Jan Braathu and Michael J. Murphy handing out certificates.. Photo: ICK

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Innovation Center Kosovo - Business Tuesday

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Prishtina