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For 14 years, way before its declaration of independence in 2008, Kosovo and in particular its capital Prishtina have been a big commerce center in the Balkans with a GDP of 4.0% in 2009. Prishtina beholds a variety of commercial centers. The best known commercial centres include Albi Mall, Pallati i Rinise, ELKOS - ETC, Viva Fresh Store, Maxi and Grandstore. Kosovo's economic activities are being supervised and supported by local and international chambers of commerce.

Economy
Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, but this step has not been universally recognized. By early 2013, 98 out of a total of 193 UN member states (51 percent) have recognized Kosovo’s independence, including 22 EU member states. Kosovo, a potential candidate to join the EU, is a lower-middle-income country with a solid economic growth performance since the end of the war in 1999. Kosovo is one of the four countries in Europe that showed positive growth rates in every year during the economic crisis period between 2008 and 20012, with an average of 4.5 %. Efforts aimed at strengthening domestic productivity,as Kosovo continues to struggle with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Joblessness in particular - estimated at about 40 percent - remains a central economic-policy challenge. With the difficult labor market conditions affecting youth and women disproportionately, these conditions risk undermining the country’s social fabric. Largely reflecting historical legacies, Kosovo remains one of the poorest countries in Europe, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of about €2,700 per capita and about one-third of her population living below the poverty line, while roughly one-eighth lives in extreme poverty. According to the import-export statistics of the Kosova Statistic Agency of the Republic of Kosovo, one of the main trade partners is the EU that is participating with 43.6% for export and 39.9% for import in December 2013, while the CEFTA participation has been 37.1% for export and 26.7% for import for the same time period. According to KSA Kosovo exported to the following countries in December 2013: Italy (26.0%), Albania (18.8%), India (10.1%), Montenegro (6.7%), Macedonia (6.0%), Serbia (3.9%). The data for the period of December 2013 states that more import has come from: Serbia (12.6%), Germany (10.7%), Turkey (9.4%), Italy (8.7%), China (8.5%), Macedonia (5.8%) and others.

Producer prices
Prices and values of industrial products are implemented by summing up the impact on manufacturing enterprises in Kosovo. Values of production and average annual refering to the year 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, as well as continuous calculation of the index,are being monitored in quarterly and annual periods. PPI stands for producer price index, which is consistent with the Standard Classification of Activities according to NACE rev.1. It is under development and consistently seeks to include economic activities which are not currently active, but that will gradually be the expected production from these activities.

Kosovo Chamber of Commerce
Kosovo Chamber of Commerce is a business association in Kosovo, and was established by the Assembly of Kosovo in 1962. It is the legal representative of the interests of businesses in Kosovo. KCC is a nonprofit, independent organization with no political affiliation. KCC progresses under the objective of improving the market economy and entrepreneurship in Kosovo. Kosovo Chamber of Commerce advocates and represents the interests of its members by giving advice on business start-ups and assisting its member companies. KCC promotes the investment in- and development of Kosovo’s economy.

American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo
The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo (AmCham) is an independent, non-governmental organization that promotes economic opportunities and business interests. AmCham Kosovo is a leading business association in the country, through which business leaders cooperate to strengthen the country’s business climate. AmCham Kosovo, established in 2004, is officially accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C.

Albi Group
Albi Groupwas launched on September 5, 1990. It was known as Albi commerce, and was a small distribution company with seven employees at the time. Over time the company has grown and units such as Albi Shopping, Albi Mall, Sportina & Albi, Albi & Fashion, work in corporation with Albi Group. Albi Group invests in training and the professional development of its employees, in order to practice innovation and market demands in Kosovo.

Albi Mall
Albi Mall was launched in 2006, and its area of 12 000 square meters is located on the suburb of the capital city of the Republic of Kosovo, Pristina, in the Veternik neighborhood. In 2010, Albi Mall was extended to 18 300 square meters, reaching a total area of 30 300 square meters, thus becoming the largest shopping center in Kosovo. Albi Mall has hypermarkets, textile shops, restaurants, coffee bars, bowling alleys, cosmetics stores, jewelry stores, pharmacies and a playground for children. A part of Albi Mall is also Albi Hypermarket The Hypermarket is located in the basement, of Albi Mall, with a space of around 3300m2, and with a wide range of food products, hygiene and others.

Albi Outlet
Albi Outlet is the newest commercial center that is part of the Albi Group, and the first of its kind in Kosova. In Albi Outlet, despite the popular brands that this commercial center offers,the prices are up to 70% lower. The most known brands are: Geox, Springfield, Tom Tailor, Tally Welly, Jach and Jones, Celio, Tamaris, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Kanz etc. Additionally to the textile products, in Albi Outlet you can be served at Alb Hypermarket, Cosmetics and Coffee Shops SunBar and Restaurant Company. CoffeeShop is the company that is part of the Albi Outlet as well.

Viva Fresh Store
Viva Fresh was founded in 2003, with the first sale point in the city of Ferizaj. Viva Fresh follows trends and European standards, by offering various ranges of products, such as food products, hygiene products, textiles, cosmetics, home appliances, decorations, working tools, etc, and has parking for customer vehicles. Viva Fresh operates in two formats, Hypermarket and Supermarket. Supermarkets are usually from 400 to 2,000 square meters, and depending on the size of the store, facility’s products range from 5,000 up to 12,000 local and foreign goods. Hypermarkets are 2,000 and 14,000 square meters. They have recreational spaces for children and a wider assortment of 20,000 to 70,000 domestic and foreign goods.

ELKOS
ELKOS was founded in 1990, starting with no more than 70 square meters of space. From that time until the Kosovo War, ELKOS represented various manufacturers of ex – Yugoslavia and had many branches in various cities of Kosovo (Prishtina being the main branch) and Montenegro. In 2000, ELKOS signed its first contract with the European manufacturer of the goods distribution rights in Kosovo. Between 2001-2003, ELKOS finished the "Cash and Carry" project in the largest cities of Kosovo : Prishtina, Peja, Gjakova, Prizren, Ferizaj, Gjilan, and Mitrovica. ELKOScenter is one branch of ELKOS and is a new shopping center, which offers a wide range of products and services.

ETC
The first commercial center of ETC(Elkos Trading Center) was launched on 24. September 2005 in Peć, where the headquarters of the ELKOS Group are located. The ETC Shopping Centers Network takes up approximately 60,000 square meters and has about 1500 employees including full-time workers and part-time administrative staff.

Grand Store
Grand Store, is one of the newest project of Charlie's Group, it is a shopping mall located 3 km away from the center of town. With an area of 32,000 square meters it beholds over 85 stores, selling approximately 250 different brands and offering 700 parking spaces to its visitors. Grand Store offers its customers a variety of brands, such as: LC Waikiki, US Polo, Ramsey, Jack & Jones, Diesel, Penelope, Boss, Fossil, Michael Kors, Tarik Ediz, Adidas, Samsonite, Levis, Bata, Loreal, Zepter, LTB, H&M, ZARA, Massimo Dutti, Bershka etc.

MAXI Hypermarket
Maxi has eight retail stores in Prishtina. The retail store has its own parking places and restaurants. Apart from Maxi's physical presence, Maxi has made it possible for its customers to be able to order everything you need online. This can be done through Maxi e-Shop.

Pallati i Rinise - Youth Center
Youth and sports center is located at the heart of Prishtina, right behind the NewBorn sign. This commerce center besides offering a wide range of stores and various coffee shops, it also holds several events such as sport events and art performances. For the winter months, youth sports center has an ice skating rink that is located on the top of the building. Its sport center provides people in general with a place to have basketball competition and exercise in general. The Red Hall is another attraction that holds concerts and gives performances throughout the year. Pallati I Rinise offers customers the chance to shop at quality brand stores such as: Nike, Springfield, H&M, C&A, and many more.

Youth Center is a complex, housing different social, public, cultural, recreational, athletic and re-creative,as well as economic manifestations. It was built on November 19, 1977, with a surface area of 8136 square meters of occupancy. It was built by the means of self-contribution by the citizens of the Prishtina region. Onehundred nineteen business premises occupy the area. It's built with the fundings from different banks, toward which CLAT Palace has paid the debt. The Youth Center consist of different departments: finance department ,security department, marketing department and technical department.