Speech by RCC Secretary General at KFF2026

28 April 2026 | SPEECH

RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic was a key-note speaker at KFF2026 business forum held in Pristina on 28 April 2026.

Kapetanovic spoke how demography, productivity, and economic growth in the Western Balkans are deeply interconnected and form a critical “triangle of challenge”, saying that low productivity leads to weak wage growth, which drives emigration and reduces the labor force, ultimately limiting long-term economic potential. While the region is experiencing moderate growth, it is not transformative because it relies more on consumption and remittances than on productivity gains. He emphasizes that the region must shift to a productivity-driven model through skills development, regional cooperation, and stronger institutions. Addressing a growing “trust deficit” between governments, businesses, and citizens is also essential to attract investment and ensure sustainable development, enabling the Western Balkans to transition from stagnation to meaningful economic transformation.
Among other things, Kapetanovic noted that the region’s working-age population is projected to fall by nearly one-fifth by 2050, while the Western Balkans Six could face a shortage of more than 190,000 workers in the next five years. At the same time, labour productivity remains at only around 40% of the EU average.

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