Unable State to Stop Controversial North

Of the 460 businesses surveyed, most claim that informality or non-combat competition remain among the main barriers to businesses.

That's what it was said today during the publication of the study “Botleneck”, aimed at identifying barriers that prevent doing business in Kosovo.

O Chairman EK, Safet Gerjaliu, said that among the main barriers to businesses are inform economy, high interest in business municipal banks, high energy costs and lack of cash.

“has reported as the biggest barrier non-playary competition from the grey economy, with costs and credibility in electricity supply, high interest rates and other costs of other bank transactions. And one of the main problems is the lack of cash, meaning paying delays on consumers, with which more than 32 percent of the businesses surveyed face problems. What makes this report more creditable, however, is addressing the private sector regarding the lack of a skilled workforce, where 31. 6 percent of businesses have one major challenge”, Gerjaliu said.

On the basis of an OEK publication, barriers to the economy are corruption, lack of legal framework, not equal political stability for businesses, lack of qualified workers. On the basis of this publication, visa liberalisation has influenced businesses to lose contact with international ones. 50 percent of the businesses surveyed have claimed employment is on the rise.

Dervisoli goals from the Department of Commerce in the MTI, confirmed that a number of these barriers were only accepted consistently, and are working on addressing them. But it singled out electricity as the main problem leading companies to closure.

“mentioned, one of them continues to remain one of the main concerns of businesses and we have had obvious cases that occurred until the company's closure or factory due to this problem, which unfortunately the Ministry of Commerce has been limited to its competence, since it is a duty or responsibility to other institutions”, Dervisol said.

While Bahri Berisha, director of the Kosovo Customs, said that even though simplified procedures have been created in customs, there is still room for more work to do without business complaints. He acknowledged that there are still smuggling in northern Mitrovica.

It's a challenge that was mentioned by pre-speaking people, the black and informal economy issue in the northern part of Mitrovica. We're all aware of the situation there. What I want to assure you is that there is much more control by state institutions than it was a few years ago, we are present at the border crossings. A smuggling, which is under way there, is much smaller than it was many years ago, but it is still developing through the green border line, which in this case requires a support and a comprehensive approach involving”, Berisha has confirmed.

Sakip Imer, director in ATK, said ATK is focused on combating the information economy and has managed to lower this scale compared to years ago.