About two million citizens in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia have entrusted their future to one of the most successful insurance companies in Europe with over 600 offices. A very positive business climate prevails in Kosovo.

The main focus is to help customers have a sense of security and protect themselves in unexpected cases, says in an interview for KosovaPress, the founder and general director of SIGAL UNIQA, Avni Ponari.

Ponari emphasizes that this company has paid about 200 million euros in damages in Kosovo during these 20 years.

He points out that only during the year 2023, the value of the damages paid is about 10 million euros.

The director of SIGAL UNIQA states that this company is ready to insure buildings worth billions of euros, since according to him, the nature of work and construction with international partners makes them guarantee such a thing.

He adds that the number of customers who have chosen SIGAL UNIQA is over 1.5 million, for which he emphasized that another focus remains to be close to customers, apart from physically and online.

"For 20 years we have paid about 200 million in damages in Kosovo, whereas this year it was about 10 million. The damages were of different levels, not only motor damage, but also health and property damage, because this is the reason why we are here ... The priority of an insurance company, in general, is determined and the focus is known... Today SIGAL is ready to insure objects not in millions of euros, but maybe even billions, because the very nature of work with international partners is such that we guarantee and insure every type of object and subject in the territory of Albania, including aircraft, ships, that we have in Albania... Today, the number of customers in three countries is over 1.5 million of residents, and the number of employees is over 2.200. We have a fair ratio and over 600-700 offices in the three states. It is a fair ratio of building responsibilities. Our focus is now not only to be close to the client physically, but also online", said Ponari.

Ponari calls the work of over 20 years an interesting story, for which he says that throughout these years they have been a leader in the insurance market, leading it not only from a financial point of view, but also in terms of products in Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.

He adds that SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA is one of the 50 largest companies in Central and Eastern Europe, while adding that their focus is to always be close to customers.

Ponari points out that if he performed these services in other countries with a larger population, the company would not be with the current figures, but would reap even more successes.

"20 years in Kosovo and over 25 in Albania is an interesting story, we cannot say success, because when we say success, it means that you operate in an environment with many clients. The population in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia, where we operate is small - in the three countries, 6 or 6.5 million inhabitants. If I would have done this work that I do with my staff in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia, in a country where the population is high and the number of customers is large, of course the company would no longer be in these figures that it is today, that the total annual figure exceeds 100 million euros and is one of the 50 largest companies in Central and Eastern Europe... This period has been interesting, because we have been a leader in the insurance market, we have led this market, not only from a financial point of view, but also from a product point of view, being a school of the insurance market in all three countries… Our focus has always been to be close to employees, but on the other hand, to be close to customers as well", says Ponari for KosovaPress.

Apart from these, the director of this company, Avni Ponari, says that insurance is one of the three pillars of a country's economy.

He emphasizes that disasters, diseases, natural hazards, catastrophes are risks that are not avoided, but reduced due to insurance.

Ponari points out that insurance is an industry that has very important values, to which he adds that they are also protective of financial values.

"Insurance is an industry that has very important values, because it is one of the three pillars of a country's economy. The fact that this industry is quite developed in the world shows that the focus of business, people, governments on this industry, because after all, it is the protector of financial values and the return to previous positions. Disasters, diseases, natural hazards, catastrophes, are risks which cannot be avoided. They are reduced by their effect, due to insurance. Insurance is what brings back to financial positions any type of business... Insurances are products that are quite cheap and with as little consumption of cigarettes or alcoholic beverages as possible, you can replace this type of consumption with an insurance product. So, you will secure your home, your health, a car, the cattle in the area where you are, the field with wheat, apples, grapes from natural hazards, from hail, rain, storms... This strengthens the personality and dignity of the person", said Ponari.

Meanwhile, regarding how difficult it is to do business in Kosovo, Ponari says that it is easier than in Albania, as according to him, there are some positive things and better regulated. He said that a very positive business climate prevails in Kosovo.

SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA in Kosovo is a member of the UNIQA Group, one of the leading insurance groups, with a 200-year tradition of providing security to more than 9.4 million policyholders. With over 20 years of activity in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, this company supports customers through dozens of branches and agencies throughout Kosovo.

This company with over two thousand employees in about 700 offices has become a symbol of reliability and responsibility in Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.

SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA in Kosovo, leader of successes, with over 20 years of work and dedication, is closing this year with over 10 million euros in paid damages.

For a safer life and a future without having to look back, Ponari says that citizens choose to trust SIGAL UNIQA Group AUSTRIA.

Ensuring an excellent customer experience, care provided in the management of various risks, safe and reliable protection, are among the priorities of this company. /Z. Zeneli/