Rukiqi: I don't see Serbia coming back strong after tax removal

Berat Rukiqi, chairman of the Kosovo Economic Ode, has estimated that there is currently a favourable business climate in the country.

Rukiqi in an interview at the Info Magazine of Kosovo commented on the state of the economy in the country during Ramush Haradinaj's rule period.

“As far as the Haradinaj Government is concerned, I consider there has been a greater focus of local production, has continued with a good practice of fiscal policies and normally was the tax decision, which in some form has been synonymous with a large period of Government Haradinaj, whose effects have been seen, and others can be seen in the long-term”.

Rukiqi also voiced doubts about Serbia's return to the Kosovo market following the possible removal of the tax.

To see the effects on certain products, we need to know exactly what we imported from Serbia. The main product has been electricity, then different gases, raw materials for much of the products, including flour, food products, hygienic materials, construction materials. These are the main things we've imported from Serbia”.

Every import of these products after tax is introduced has cost more dearly, has been costing transportation and contracts that are not easily negotiated, and are short term. These have made it affecting the final price of” products.

I see that a large part of the companies are beginning to reorient the market. I don't see Serbia coming back strongly after the tax is lifted. In general consumer products, there is greater awareness of consumers as well as our companies are now supplied by other countries. But, in products where the cost is lower to wheat or metal, I don't believe that if the tax is lifted, someone will see only the patriotic element”.

The head of OEK also argued that if the tax is decided to be lifted, we should have a clear list of economic issues against Serbia.