Dr. Asif Iqbal Participates in European Quality Congress at UBT
Landmark collaboration with UBT, engagement with international companies, and initiative to establish the Kosovo Economic Trade Council mark a new chapter in international economic diplomacy.
Prishtina, Kosovo | 24 October 2026
The Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO) has taken significant steps towards strengthening international economic, educational, industrial and investment partnerships in the Republic of Kosovo, following the participation of its President, Dr. Asif Iqbal, in the prestigious 67th European Organization for Quality (EOQ) Congress 2026, hosted at the University for Business and Technology (UBT) in Prishtina, Kosovo, on 22–23 October 2026.
The international conference, held under the theme “Shaping Quality for a Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Future,” brought together policymakers, academic leaders, business executives, technology specialists and representatives of European institutions to deliberate on competitiveness, institutional trust, technological transformation and sustainable development.
IETO–UBT Partnership: Connecting Academia with Global Industry
A major highlight of IETO’s engagement in Kosovo has been its recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UBT, one of Kosovo’s prominent multidisciplinary higher education institutions.
Led by its President and Rector, Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, UBT has established an academic ecosystem encompassing engineering, information technology, business management, economics, healthcare, architecture and other professional disciplines.
The IETO–UBT partnership aims to create opportunities for academic exchanges, industry–university collaborations, applied research, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology transfer and international business development.
The cooperation is expected to facilitate greater interaction between Indian educational institutions, industries and companies in Kosovo, while exploring joint programmes, student mobility, institutional partnerships and opportunities for practical industry-oriented education.
Leading International Companies Participate in Industry–Academia Engagements
The conference and associated business interactions provided an important platform for engagement with internationally connected companies representing technology, engineering, professional services and industrial development.
Among the participating companies and representatives were:
1. ZION – A New York-based company led by Alba Bruqi, representing opportunities for international business collaboration and entrepreneurial engagement.
2. EUROSIG – Represented by Valton Ajeti, contributing to discussions on corporate development, competitiveness and business cooperation.
3. EVROTARGET – Represented by Human Resources Manager Blerta Mataj, highlighting the importance of workforce development, skills, recruitment and industry–academia cooperation.
4. TRONICS – An Italian engineering company, representing opportunities for technical collaboration, engineering expertise, industrial innovation and international partnerships.
These engagements emphasized the importance of connecting academic institutions with real-world industrial requirements, strengthening workforce capabilities and building international networks that encourage innovation and economic growth.
For IETO, such interactions are particularly relevant in identifying opportunities for Indian companies to collaborate with Kosovo-based and European businesses in engineering, technology, professional education, manufacturing and services.
Distinguished International Leadership at the European Quality Congress
The conference featured an impressive international programme with distinguished speakers from government, academia, industry, healthcare, financial institutions and European organizations.
Prominent personalities featured in the conference programme included:
– H.E. Justina Shiroka Pula, President of the Republic of Kosovo.
– Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi, President and Rector of UBT, President of Quality Kosova and Vice President of EOQ.
– Prof. Dr. Paulo Sampaio, President of the European Organization for Quality.
– Mr. Boguslaw Gertruda, Head of the Political, Economic and Integration Section, European Union Office in Kosovo.
– Dr. Daniel Prell, Siemens Healthineers.
– Mr. Ricardo Rio, Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and former Mayor of Braga, Portugal.
– Academician Juhani Anttila, International Academy for Quality.
– Prof. Dr. Bertan Karahoda, UBT.
– Mr. Mentor Hyseni, Director General, Tax Administration of Kosovo.
– Mr. Genond Mesareja, Chairman of the Board, European Investors Council.
– Mr. Kadri Bytyqi, Chairman, Kosovo Chamber of Pharmacists.
– Prof. Dr. Enver Hoxhaj, Member of the Assembly of Kosovo and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology.
– Prof. Dr. Kozeta Sevrani, Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana.
– H.E. Ylber Kryeziu, former Ambassador of Kosovo to Portugal.
– Mr. Besnik Tahiri, Member of the Assembly of Kosovo.
– Mr. Niman Racaj, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Media Commission of Kosovo.
– Prof. Dr. Fatbardh Sallaku, Rector, Agricultural University of Tirana.
– Prof. Dr. Visar Hoxha, UBT.
– Dr. Ahmet Ismaili, Governor, Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo.
The participation of international institutions and expert speakers reinforced the importance of quality standards, digitalization, higher education, good governance and institutional trust in building internationally competitive economies.
Healthcare Cooperation and United Hospitals Initiative
Healthcare development also emerged as an important area of potential collaboration, particularly through discussions concerning United Hospitals, an initiative promoted by UBT.
The healthcare sector offers opportunities for institutional cooperation involving Indian medical expertise, hospital administration, health technology, medical education, digital healthcare systems and professional training.
India’s experience in healthcare delivery, medical technology and hospital operations could offer valuable opportunities for future partnerships with Kosovo’s healthcare institutions and investors.
Formation of Kosovo Economic Trade Council: A New Platform for International Investment
One of the most significant outcomes of the discussions was the initiative to establish the Kosovo Economic Trade Council (KETC), envisioned as an international economic cooperation platform to promote Kosovo’s trade interests and attract foreign private sector investment.
Dr. Asif Iqbal is proposed to lead the Kosovo Economic Trade Council as Chairman of its Board, bringing IETO’s international institutional relationships and economic diplomacy experience to the initiative.
The proposed Council would serve as a collaborative platform connecting Kosovo’s private sector, international investors, chambers of commerce, academic institutions, industrial organizations and relevant government stakeholders.
Its priority areas of cooperation would include:
– Foreign Direct Investment: Facilitating international investor engagement and identifying bankable investment opportunities.
– Industry and Manufacturing: Encouraging industrial cooperation, technology transfer and international production partnerships.
– Education and Innovation: Connecting universities with international businesses, research institutions and innovation ecosystems.
– Healthcare: Exploring investments and institutional partnerships in hospitals, medical education and healthcare infrastructure.
– Information Technology and Engineering: Encouraging digital transformation, engineering collaborations and technology-based enterprise development.
– Infrastructure, Tourism and Energy: Supporting investment opportunities in sectors important to Kosovo’s economic growth.
– International Trade: Establishing stronger commercial networks between Kosovo, India, European markets and other international partners.
KETC is envisioned as an independent business-led platform working in accordance with Kosovo’s applicable laws, national development priorities and investment policies.
The proposed Council would also seek to establish a dedicated secretariat comprising business leaders, subject specialists and international trade professionals to coordinate investment facilitation and economic partnerships.
Quality, Competitiveness and Institutional Trust: The Foundation of Future Cooperation
The central discussions of the Congress highlighted the growing importance of quality-driven economic development and institutional reliability in the global economy.
For emerging economies such as Kosovo, internationally accepted quality standards, skilled human resources, transparent business practices and institutional trust are important foundations for attracting sustainable international investment.
IETO’s engagement therefore reflects a broader vision of economic diplomacy that extends beyond trade promotion to encompass knowledge exchange, innovation, institutional partnerships and long-term economic cooperation.
Dr. Asif Iqbal emphasized the importance of positioning Kosovo as an attractive destination for international partnerships by connecting its young talent, academic institutions and entrepreneurial ecosystem with international business opportunities.
The proposed Kosovo Economic Trade Council is expected to help translate these interactions into structured opportunities for trade, investment and institutional collaboration.
Strengthening Kosovo’s International Economic Connectivity
The engagement at UBT represents an important milestone in IETO’s efforts to strengthen its economic relationships across Southeast Europe and the wider European region.
Through cooperation with UBT, engagement with international companies and the proposed KETC initiative, IETO aims to support stronger connections between Kosovo and global markets.
The organization also envisages building linkages between Kosovo’s economic ecosystem and business networks in India, the European Union, the Middle East and other international markets.
The initiative marks a step towards establishing a sustained framework for investment promotion, academic cooperation and private-sector engagement, with the wider objective of contributing to Kosovo’s economic development and international competitiveness.
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About the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO)
The Indian Economic Trade Organization promotes international economic cooperation, trade facilitation, investment partnerships, industrial collaborations and economic diplomacy through engagements with businesses, institutions and international partners.
Website: http://www.ieto.in
Email: secretariat@ieto.in
