SAKSHI MEHTA - 67

INTRODUCTION

The region currently known as "Kosovo" became an administrative region in 1946, as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

In 1974, the compositional "Kosovo and Metohija" was reduced to simple "Kosovo" in the name of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, but in 1990 was renamed back to Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Since Kosovo declared independence, it is now also referred to as "The Republic of Kosovo" in English, though "Kosovo" is still the most common name used.

INTRODUCTION

KOSOVO is a disputed state in the BALKANS.

Its majority is governed by the partially recognised Republic of Kosovo, a self declared independent state which has de facto control over the territory; the exceptions are some Sern Enclaves.

Serbia does not recognise the secession of Kosovo and considers it a United Nations -governed entity within its sovereign territory.

DEMOGRAPHICS AREA – 10,902 sq km. (4212 sq mi)

CAPITAL – PRISHTINA

POPULATION – 21,00,000

ETHNIC GROUPS –• Albanians (92 %)• Serbs (5.3 %)• Others (2.7 %)

demographics

RELIGION – ISLAM

LANGUAGES – ALBANIAN, SERBIAN

BOREDERING – »Macedonia to the south, »Albania to the west, the region of Central Serbia

to the north and east, and »Montenegro to the Northwest

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS Government Type – Republic

President – Fatmir Sejdiu (Since 10th Feb. 2006).

Prime Minister – Hashim Taci (Since9th Jan. 2008)

ECONOMY & FINANCE GDP – Total : €3.804 billion

Per Capita : €1.759

Inflation Rate – 1.3%

Currency– EURO

Growth Rate – 3%

ECONOMY & FINANCE

Major Indusrties – Agriculture, Mining, Metal, Winemaking.

Trade and Investment – Kosovo received $3,2 billion of foreign aid International donor conference is to be held in

Switzerland in June or July 2008 EU pledged €2 billion, $350 mil by USA Serbia also pledged €120 million to Serb's enclaves in Kosovo.

ECONOMY & FINANCE

A 50% tax reduction implemented in 2008 which has helped double investment in the country.

Kosovo joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on 26 June 2009 as the 186th country to join the two institutions.

An expected growth of "around 4.0 percent to 5.0 percent" in 2010.

ECONOMY & FINANCE

Health: Infant mortality rate-- 23.7/1,000.Total fertility rate, births per woman -- 2.9.Life expectancy – 75 years.

Education: Adult literacy rates – 91.9% (men 96.6%, women 87.5%). Enrollment --96% of children, ages 7-15

enrolled in primary school.

ECONOMY & FINANCE Income and employment : 45% of the Kosovo labor force is

unemployed; 35% of Kosovo's citizens live below the

poverty line, and 15% live in extreme poverty.

Industry: Mineral mining, energy, telecommunications, forestry, agriculture, metal processing, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances.