Shala presents MTI achievements and targets for next year

Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Shala has held the conference for the end of the year and presented the achievements of 2018 and the goals of next year.

Shala has stressed that 8 Laws, 20 Administration Guides, 6 MTI regulations, 4 Administrative Guides, 1 Government Orders and Four Commandments are sponsored.

The minister has said that the priority during 2018 has been the protection of local producers, the support of small and medium-sized enterprises, export growth, consumer protection, inspection reform and fulfillment of obligations stemming from the SAA.

Shala has also talked about protecting local producers, citing decisions that have been made.

With the decisions we've made, we've witnessed that local producers have been given priority: By implementing the law on anti-dumping and the law on protective measures we have imposed taxes on: Trees and vegetables, blocks, flour, then I've first placed the 10% tax on products originating from Bosnia and Serbia and then the 100 % tax that will continue to remain in force for all products. These MTI decisions have directly affected Kosovo's producer, our farmers and our country's economy in general. As a result of these decisions, there are increased jobs, greater local market coverage with local products, and there is increased quality of local products”, Shala stressed.

The minister has suggested that the support of the Small and Middle Enterprises was made during 2018 and 1.6m euros in grants have been allocated.

We have distributed grants of 1.6m euros for 35 production companies in our country. With these grants distributed over the next year, we expect the creation of hundreds of new jobs, increased quality of local products and export growth. We have created good conditions for NVM investing in existing economic areas, such as 2.4ml investment in the economic zone in Suhareka. The 1.6mn Euro investment in the Economic Zone in the Year. We are in a procedure to select an economic operator for starting work in the economic zone in Vushtrri. We've established the economic zone in Malisheva, next year we expect to launch procedures for the construction of this area. We've established the business incubator in the same municipality”, Shala said.

The minister has said that in addition to protecting local production, during this year we have focused on creating conditions for increasing export of our products outside Kosovo.

The participation of 33 Kosovo exporters in 9 international fairs, in which over 220 Kosovo products have been displayed and promoted in this year. As a result of participating in these fairs are signed 33 money contracts for export, as well as companies have infiltrated 3 new markets”.

The minister has stressed in consumer protection that we have been extremely committed to consumer protection this year, so orders have been issued for the inspector.

“Ordering to ban the sale of tobacco and alcohol for under 18 years of age is in concrete work for consumer protection. The order to label products, and we have attracted products that do not refer to Kosovo as a state from the market. Today I have also issued the ordinance that imposes fuel stations to put in front of, on the boards, the prices of products”, Shala said.

Shala has said she has initiated control of the weight of bread and declaration in economic subjects, and wherever problems have been faced, punishment measures have been taken.

“We've submitted for analysis toys that were traded in our country. After the analysis arrived, we destroyed more than 17,000 pieces of toys, and we stopped the import of more than 18 contacts with such toys in our country. By thus directly affecting our children's health. During this year, I have made a decision on the delocation of Kosovo quality agencies, and the creation of the National Center for Quality. During the next year, the distribution of these agencies and implementation of the 14 million project we have won by the World Bank” will begin, Shala has said.

The minister has indicated that the number of market inspections increased by 150% last year, over 1.502 inspections of economic operators in the private sector have been taken over 436 samples of liquid fuel in the domestic market, with the goal of verifying the quality of these products from these 436 samples, over 230 samples have been taken only in my lifetime as minister, namely from October 1st 2018 to today.

Over 204 consumer complaints have been considered, and have largely resulted based, so they have also been placed in favour of the consumer and by this we imply that citizens' trust in institutions has increased. Also issued are 121 fines against economic operators, who have not respected applicable laws in the Republic of Kosovo, and 45 procedures have been initiated in competent courts.

The minister said state inspections are essential components of a modern regulatory state and should be focused on implementing laws and regulations, but should by no means become administrative burden to the private sector in Kosovo.

“MTI is engaged in reducing the administrative burden and simplifying the licenses and licenses for businesses. At the moment in Kosovo, about 460 different permits and licenses are in force, issued by various central and local-level institutions. The MTI will be the first institution to launch the process of simplifying these permits and licenses through the regulatory process and to do the elimination of those that are duplication (or surplus) in order to influence the continued improvement of the business environment in Kosovo. With the support of the IFC (World Bank) project financed by the Swiss Government “Investment Climate Improvement in Kosovo”, MTI is coordinating the inspection reform process throughout the Republic of Kosovo”.

Shala has also talked about fulfilling the obligations that come out of the SAA, which according to him, the MTI has been and is committed to fulfilling all obligations stemming from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

In this respect, all departments and agencies within the MTI have done extraordinary work, so I'm happy to say today that we've realised 74% of the criteria that are set before for this year”

The minister has stressed that for the first time in history of the Ministry of Trade and Industry this year, the budget has been realised in the amount of 93 percent.

The minister has said that priorities for 2019 will be of particular focus on the oil derivative market. “In passing the new law according to EU standards and directives. But also, in drafting criteria aimed at increasing oil derivative quality in the local market”.