Macedonia launches export of agricultural products to Kosovo

Businessmen in large numbers after the two-week blockade because of the highest customs that applied and then abolished Pristina, now rub their hands. They say the demand for trees and vegetables has risen drastically and prices have also increased. Unlike the last two weeks, even in the afternoon hours when the market was packed with trees and vegetables for which there were no buyers, the last boxes were sold these two days in the morning.

We've had a big exit of goods coming out of the market. There were eight merchants from there, each of whom had one truck, and eight trucks, one of which remained empty, had no longing for it. Therefore, we are very satisfied now, prices have risen drastically “- said one businessman

The peach has grown from 20 to 25 denarii, grapes from 30 to 35, and mostly sold for 40 denarii. However, businessmen complain that the blockade has caused financial damage, and now they hope that through increased eventual demand, some of the loss will be compensated. The Ministry of Agriculture is still making estimates of the damage caused by the two-week blockades.

We will examine all options and options in the damage suffered by our farmers, whether through intervention measures for the sale of part of the processing products, the existing measures. The increase in amounts, either in terms of increased subsidies to the surface of”, said Ljupco Nikolovski, minister of Agriculture.

Kosovo has applied a 30 per cent customs protection to 21 agricultural products on 18 July. Last week, at the request of CEFTA member states, where Kosovo is also a member, the customs of 17 agricultural products was initially abolished, but remained for tomatoes, peppers, grapes, dates, apples and berries that are part of Macedonia's most exported products.

On Tuesday, the Kosovo government decided to fully remove the largest customs. /AlsatM