Businesses have been expecting more from the new government

Despite investors' expectations, whether foreign or local, the Government failed to implement the Strategic Investment Law in 2017 and fiscal package 2.0.

The chairman of the American Chamber of Economics, Arian Zeka, who in an interview for Kosova Preress, has said that despite the enthusiasm business had with the coming of the new government, this did not pay off in making major decisions that have long been lacking.

Perhaps this year has marked even the slightest interest of foreign investors. There has been a reception for the introduction of a new law, the law for strategic investment, a large portion of investors who have come here during 2016 or early 2017, have constantly expected this new regulation to become effective for strategic investors. Unfortunately, almost all the year 2017, the Government on the other hand ended, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, respectively, failed to finalise secondary, legislative acts -- administrative guidelines that would enable the law to be implemented for strategic investments”, Zeka said.

According to him, the new government had brought enthusiasm to businesses, but there were no decisions in favour of businesses to facilitate doing business.

The new government's “arrival has brought some enthusiasm to businesses, especially this delayed dynamic government in keeping the door open, we're not saying it in terms of decision-making, since the important decisions were still lacking. Let's remember this Government has not implemented the government's decision on fiscal package 2.0. So again what happens is a lack of government consistency, the new government does not comply with decisions of the past government, which is not something new”, Zeka said.

In addition to the fiscal package, he expects the tax - vacation law to take effect in 2018.

The question of how tax breaks will be decided, which will be beneficiaries under which criteria, should be adjusted to administrative instruction, and unfortunately this administrative instruction has already been prepared by neither government for over 2 and a half years. And that's for every regret“, Zeka said.

He also expects the State to empower order and law in 2018, as well as to fight corruption.

All the legal changes that took place last year will bring no concrete results, no effect unless the country manages to promote its priorities before potential investments. The tripca, of course, should be damaged first that we should see Trepca and its potential from a more pragmatic point of view, to be more realistic about the potential that exists within the Trepca, but also the opportunities the state has in this case the government of the country for new investment“, Zeka said.

He expects all shortcomings and setbacks that took place in 2017 to improve in 2018.