Second panel of the LeadBalkans Conference, “Diaspora Impact in Re-shaping the Western Balkans”, examined how diaspora engagement is already changing local economies, culture and governance across the region and what must be built next to make that impact systemic and sustainable.
Moderated by Andjela Martinovic from Episteme Hub, the discussion moved beyond remittances and focused on diaspora as a strategic partner: Creating jobs in overlooked areas, opening new markets, strengthening standards in education and research and keeping cultural identity alive across generations.
Armin Alijagic (Naša Perspektiva) shared lessons from nearly two decades of hands-on diaspora engagement. Working with more than 30 local communities, he stressed that diaspora investment is usually local-first: when people decide to act, they most often invest back in their place of origin.
He highlighted the economic multiplier diaspora businesses can bring, especially through exports, pointing to a sharp contrast between average export levels for many local companies and the far higher export orientation often seen among diaspora-linked businesses. Beyond capital, he emphasized diaspora’s ability to bring know-how, access to markets and opportunities for communities that are frequently neglected by mainstream development.
Klarita Gërxhani (Dutch Academy of Sciences; Professor, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) delivered a more critical message: collaboration does not scale without governance, clear coordination mechanisms and credible standards. She argued that diaspora engagement cannot be reduced to databases and ad hoc initiatives.
Instead, it requires institutional “bridges” that make it easy to connect expertise, match needs with offers, and protect quality, particularly in academia, where gaps in standards and incentives can discourage meaningful partnerships. Her point was clear: without strong institutions and transparent criteria, the region will keep losing talent and missing opportunities to connect with its own excellence abroad.
Sabina Curraj (Ura Cult) brought the cultural lens: for many diaspora members, culture is the bridge that keeps identity alive and creates belonging, especially for younger generations growing up in another society. She described how cultural activities also generate practical spillovers, including trust-based networking and business visibility.
In her experience, people remain deeply connected regardless of how long they have lived abroad and they actively seek platforms that help them maintain language, heritage, and community, while also opening space for cooperation across Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and beyond.
Nikica Mojkoska-Blazhevski (Macedonia 2025) presented a structured model built around two pillars, business support and education, combined with advocacy for reforms that improve the regulatory environment. Her intervention reinforced a central theme of the panel: diaspora impact grows when engagement is connected to policy reforms, clear programs, and measurable outcomes, not only goodwill.
Lirim Krasniqi (GERMIN) underlined the need to stop treating diaspora as a single category. He argued that effective engagement starts with understanding layers and nuances, who they are, what they can offer, and how they prefer to connect.
Referencing outreach to hundreds of diaspora organizations across the Western Balkans and North America, he noted that the real ecosystem is far larger than what most institutions can map with limited resources. He also emphasized technology as a force-multiplier: virtual platforms expanded engagement dramatically, but attempts to “represent” diaspora through rigid institutional mechanisms often fail when they are top-down and disconnected from real communities.
Michal Vit (Metropolitan University of Prague) added a candid external perspective, warning against simplistic narratives that frame people coming to or working in the region as either saviors or opportunists. He called for more agency and more seriousness in tackling institutional obstacles, both within local systems and within international structures, so collaboration is not trapped in stereotypes, shortcuts, or mistrust.
Across diverse experiences, the panel converged on one conclusion: diaspora engagement works best when it is local, coordinated, standards-driven, and built on real communities—supported by institutions that can match talent with needs, and ideas with implementation.
