BKT holds celebration ceremony on the occasion of the change of its status
National Commercial Bank held a celebration ceremony on the occasion of changing its status from a Foreign Bank Branch to a Bank, on the 10th anniversary of its expansion in Kosovo. The ceremony was held at the Emerald Hotel, on June 26, 2018, and was attended by many eminent figures of society as well as many clients and associates of National Commercial Bank.
The ceremony was opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Kosovo, Ms. Kivilcim Kilic, with a speech on the occasion, where she said: “This is a very important day for the institutionalization of the financial sector in Kosovo and its economic development. I am fully convinced that this progress, which will bring more advanced services and opportunities, will contribute to achieving higher standards in the financial sector, as well as increasing the standard of living.” She also spoke about the economic cooperation between Kosovo and Turkey. “As we always say, Turkish investment in Kosovo is an investment for the future. With almost EUR 388 million, Turkey is the third largest investor in this country, in various sectors such as banking, infrastructure, health, and other services. The volume of trade between our countries is EUR 288 million, and we are committed to increasing these values, as we remain committed to the economic growth of Kosovo and the well-being of Kosovars,” added Ms. Kivilcim Kilic.
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The Chief Executive Officer of the National Commercial Bank, Mr. Suat Bakkal, said that ten years is a significant milestone for an institution, therefore, our celebration is a great opportunity to pause and look back on our successful journey in Kosovo, and to unveil our plans for the future as a bank. “Let me tell you that the mission of our group is to contribute to raising the standard of living by using our talents and energy to develop solutions that add value to the lives of people in every region in which we operate. Therefore, our expertise, reach, and resources enable us to play an important role in helping economic growth in many countries. We are deeply involved in this by working with partners to promote economic mobility and workforce development, to enable access to capital for businesses, and to support entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations.”- said Mr. Bakkal.
The attendees were also addressed by the Chairman of the Board of the National Commercial Bank, Mr. Mehmet Usta, who among other things said: 'On behalf of the shareholders and the Board of Directors of the National Commercial Bank, I would like to express our gratitude to the Banking Regulator, the Central Bank of Kosovo, the professional Management of the Bank, as well as the staff for their continuous dedication and tireless work. A special thank you is dedicated to our clients who have trusted us and continue to trust us; as well as to our partners and the media who have supported us over the years and continue to support us today.'
As a foreign-owned bank in Kosovo, Banka Kombëtare Tregtare constantly promotes investment opportunities and the advantages offered by the Kosovo market. Recently, BKT has signed a cooperation agreement with the Turkish innovation company, Inovaban, which will provide consulting services to Banka Kombëtare Tregtare clients. In a short presentation, the General Director of Inovaban, Mr. Kazim Acatay, said: “With our experience and knowledge, we will create a bridge between Kosovo and Turkey in the fields of Research and Development and innovation ecosystems. Furthermore, we will provide consulting for start-up businesses, through communication and connecting these businesses with each other to create better solutions.”
The National Commercial Bank has been operating in Kosovo since 2007, as a branch of the Albanian National Commercial Bank. In its 10 years of operation in Kosovo, the Bank has achieved significant growth in all financial indicators, expanding its participation in the market. As a result of the continuous growth and its significant impact on the banking market, on April 30, 2018, the National Commercial Bank Branch in Kosovo, changes its status from a Foreign Bank Branch to a Bank as a Joint Stock Company. With the change in status, the Bank has also changed its name from Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Dega in Kosovo to Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosovë SH.A.
