Kosovo companies underneath risk from Trump’s USAID freeze

Trump administration’s halt to USAID funding hits Kosovo initiatives

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Kosovo’s financial system closely reliant on worldwide support, together with USAID

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Assist freeze impacts initiatives on democracy, vitality, and inclusion

By Fatos Bytyci

PRISTINA, – Kenan Gashi saws the limbs off outdated mannequins in his store in Kosovo and throws them into machines donated by the U.S. authorities that shred and clear the plastic so it may be offered for reuse.

Gashi’s recycling enterprise in Fushe Kosova was reworked when it acquired the tools from the U.S. worldwide support company two years in the past, prompting him to attract up plans to rent extra employees.

However Gashi is apprehensive now. Greater than a 3rd of the $130,000 value of promised tools has nonetheless not arrived. And now the administration of President Donald Trump has frozen USAID funding and sought to drastically scale down the help company and all U.S. overseas support underneath his “America First” agenda.

Final week, in a video assertion to the press, Trump talked about the Kosovo recycling donation for example of the form of authorities spending he needs to chop.

“We’re ready for different machines to reach, and we deliberate to extend the workforce from 5 to twenty, however every little thing is unsure now,” Gashi mentioned as he threw plastic components right into a USAID grinder with a sticker that learn “Recycling Issues”.

The U.S. has been one in all Kosovo’s greatest supporters because the small landlocked Balkan nation broke away from Serbia, supplying $1.1 billion in support since 2001, based on U.S. authorities figures.

Pristina-based suppose tank G mentioned that USAID was presently managing 17 initiatives value greater than $156 million, however it’s unclear how a lot of that has truly been disbursed.

Kosovo is among the poorest international locations in Europe and stays in dire want of support, politicians and residents say.

It’s blighted by continued ethnic tensions between the Albanian majority and the Serb minority within the north. Reuters discovered that greater than a dozen support initiatives value no less than 150 million euros have been cancelled by the European Union on account of Kosovo authorities’ function in that strife.

“Individuals is not going to die due to USAID frozen funds,” mentioned Burim Ejupi from Pristina-based Indep suppose tank. “Nevertheless…, each single greenback or euro acquired is necessary for a rustic that desperately wants them.”

In danger are funds which might be designed to strengthen Kosovo’s democratic establishments, velocity up the swap from high-polluting coal to renewable vitality, and shield marginalised teams.

Those that have acquired the funding say it makes a distinction to them and their neighborhood.

One other recycler, Qazim Grashtica, 38, scours garbage bins every day across the capital Pristina seeking plastic. USAID supplied him along with his small tractor and a machine that crushes plastic. The assistance has elevated his earnings from 5 euros a day as much as 20 euros a day.

“Earlier than the Individuals’ assist there have been instances when 10 different members of the family would sleep with out dinner. We had nothing to eat,” Grashtica mentioned in his workshop surrounded by plastic able to be offered.

“I’ll inform Trump, ‘You’re a good man, you must assist folks, particularly these in Kosovo.'”

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