Albanian Businessman in Switzerland: American Gas Is Essential for the Economic Development of Kosovo and the Region

Xhelal Memeti is the Secretary General of the Global Network of Albanian Businesses and its representative for the Presheva Valley. Simultaneously engaged in Switzerland and in his homeland, he sees this dual connection not as two separate realities, but as two dimensions of the same journey. Switzerland has given him discipline, professionalism, and access to international markets; the Valley has given him roots, identity, and a responsibility that he feels deeply.

In this interview for Journal Magazine, Memeti emphasizes that emotional patriotism must evolve into economic patriotism – by creating production and jobs. In a personal reflection, he also addresses the issue of Kosovo’s energy security, viewing energy independence as an essential condition for the sustainable economic development of the country and the region.

From advice for young people who want to build a business, to his vision for a sustainable partnership between the diaspora and the homeland, Memeti brings a mature, results-oriented perspective.

Journal Magazine: Mr. Memeti, you are engaged both in Switzerland and in the Presheva Valley. How do you manage this dual connection between the diaspora and the homeland, and what motivates you to remain active on both fronts?

Xhelal Memeti: For me, Switzerland and the Presheva Valley do not represent two separate realities, but two dimensions of the same personal and professional journey. Switzerland has given me the opportunity to develop in an environment where work, discipline, responsibility, and professionalism are valued, while the Valley represents roots, identity, and a responsibility that I feel deeply.

What motivates me to be active on both fronts is the conviction that our diaspora has much more to offer the homeland than just financial support. We have built experience, capital, contacts, knowledge, and access to international markets. Our challenge is to connect this potential in an organized way with the human and economic potential of the homeland.

I believe that the relationship between the diaspora and the homeland must evolve from a primarily emotional relationship into a structured economic and developmental partnership.

Journal Magazine: As an Albanian businessman operating in the diaspora, what have been the main challenges you have faced, and how have you managed them?

Xhelal Memeti: Building and developing a business in Switzerland means operating in a highly competitive market, where standards are high and where credibility is earned through results, integrity, and consistency.

Of course, throughout my journey I have encountered various challenges. But I have learned that challenges are an essential part of entrepreneurship. They force you to analyze, adapt, and make better decisions.

One of the most important lessons for me has been that financial capital is important, but the capital of trust is even more valuable. Reputation, keeping one’s word, fairness toward partners, and professionalism are built over years and form the foundation on which a long-term business is constructed.

Journal Magazine: You hold the position of Secretary of the Global Network of Albanian Businesses. What is the mission of this network, and what priorities have you set for its development? How do you feel as Secretary in a network that brings together Albanian businesses in the diaspora and the homeland?

Xhelal Memeti: Holding the position of Secretary of the Global Network of Albanian Businesses is an honor, but above all a responsibility. Today we have thousands of successful Albanian entrepreneurs in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the United States, and many other countries. This is an extraordinary economic, professional, and human potential.

Our mission is to connect this potential. We aim to create concrete bridges of cooperation between Albanian businesses, to create opportunities for partnerships, exchange of experiences, entry into new markets, and especially to encourage investments in Albanian lands.

Our priority must be to turn networking into concrete results. It is not enough merely to meet; from these meetings must emerge collaborations, contracts, investments, and new jobs.

In this spirit I also view the “Hambari i Luginës” initiative. For me, it should be more than a project – it must become an economic platform where local producers, entrepreneurs, investors, and the diaspora meet.

We must gradually move from emotional patriotism toward economic patriotism. The most sustainable way to help the homeland is to create an economy, production, investments, and jobs.

Journal Magazine: As Secretary of the Global Network of Albanian Businesses, how do you view the American gas investment in the Balkans? What opportunities do you see for Albanian businesses from the diaspora that invest in the homeland from this project, and could your network play a role in this process?

Xhelal Memeti: Personal opinion, unofficial, based on my experience.

As Secretary of the Global Network of Albanian Businesses, I want to emphasize that this is only my personal opinion and not an official position of the network.

The American gas project is a giant project and, in my view, in addition to being well-conceived, it is also necessary for Kosovo and the region.

Taking into account the production capacity and the current energy needs of Kosovo, I believe this project will serve not only Kosovo but also the economic development of the region. In addition to ensuring sufficient energy for the country’s needs, in the future it may also create capacity for export.

One of the greatest benefits would be that Kosovo would no longer need to spend millions of euros on importing electricity, especially during periods of higher demand. Above all, energy independence and a stable energy supply are essential for the sustainable development of the economy.

Without sufficient and reliable energy, it is very difficult to create the conditions for the development of heavy industry, for attracting major investments, and for the normal functioning of large companies. We have often seen that the lack or uncertainty of energy supply has been one of the main problems faced by businesses.

For this reason, I personally believe that such a project should be viewed first and foremost from the perspective of Kosovo’s long-term interest and its economic development.

As for our strategic partner, the United States of America, I believe that our permanent ally has continuously demonstrated its commitment to Kosovo and the region. Therefore, I am convinced that such a partnership would not place Kosovo in a project that would be unfavorable to its strategic interests.

Of course, every major project must be analyzed carefully, transparently, and professionally. But I think we should not allow speculation or differing interpretations by analysts to make us forget a fundamental fact: without secure and sufficient energy, there can be no sustainable economic development.

This is my personal opinion, based on my experience and on what I consider the long-term interest of Kosovo and its economy.

Journal Magazine: What would be your main advice for young people who aim to build a successful business, whether in Switzerland or in the homeland?

Xhelal Memeti: My main advice is not to wait for the ideal moment, because in entrepreneurship it almost never exists. They must start with the opportunities they have, but with a clear vision of where they want to go.

Young people must invest first and foremost in knowledge, professionalism, languages, technology, and networking. They should not seek only quick success, because sustainable businesses are built with patience, discipline, and reputation.

I would also encourage them to think internationally. Today, technology and global markets make it possible for a young person to live in the Valley, cooperate with a company in Switzerland, and sell their product or service in Europe.

The homeland should not be seen only as a place from which one must leave, but also as a space where new opportunities can be created.

Journal Magazine: How do you assess the role of diaspora investments in the economic development of Albanian territories, and what conditions need to be created for these investments to be more effective?

Xhelal Memeti: The diaspora is one of the greatest economic assets of Albanians. For decades it has supported families and the economy through remittances. However, the next phase must be the gradual transformation from a diaspora of remittances into a diaspora of investments.

To achieve this, concrete conditions are needed: legal security, transparency, efficient institutions, a more functional administration, and serious projects where the investor knows where they are investing, with whom they are cooperating, and what prospects their capital has.

Especially for the Presheva Valley, economic development must be considered a strategic issue. When jobs are created, perspective is created. When perspective exists, people have a reason to stay, to form families, and to build their future in their own country.

Therefore, for me, the economy is not only a matter of numbers and business. The economy is a matter of sustainability and of the future of a country.

Journal Magazine: Reflecting on your professional journey, is there any decision that today you would make differently?

Xhelal Memeti: Of course. Every person who has gone through a long professional journey has decisions that, with today’s experience, they would perhaps make differently. In some cases I would have acted faster, while in other cases I would have been more selective in choosing collaborations and investments.

Nevertheless, I would not erase the mistakes from my journey. Even the decisions that did not produce the expected result have been part of my professional formation and have taught me to be more analytical, more patient, and more careful.

Today I see success differently. Individual success is important, but success that creates opportunities for others has a much greater value.

This is also the vision I want to promote for the Presheva Valley: not only to talk about its problems, but to build solutions; not only to seek help, but to create an economy; and not to see the diaspora only as financial support, but as a strategic partner in development.

Because in the end, a country is not sustained only by love for it – it is also sustained by the possibility to live, work, invest, and build the future in it.