Mine sector in serious condition as a result of administrative guidelines

Kosovo's Oda of Afarism board member Hysni Zogaj said the most pronounced problems in doing business are administrative guidelines that are contrary to the law, such as double taxes, limiting concessions to five hectares and in five years, as well as additional taxes of 2 thousand euros a year.

Zogaj said these barriers make it impossible to develop this sector, for which they have also sought by the prime minister and the minister of agriculture, so that these administrative guidelines that are contrary to the law can be removed. According to him, if these guidelines are not removed, business representatives will revolt.

He said administrative guidance number 10,2010, Article 4 paragraph 13.7 and paragraph 13.8 limit land exploration contracts to 5 years and 5 hectares.

The pits have a huge impasse and are not getting things right. For this, the Oda of Afarism has come up with its own conclusions about problems, which are in mining and minerals doing business. So the most pronounced problems are administrative guidelines, and we have been lobbiing for the Government of Kosovo to remove these administrative guidelines, which are contrary to the law. Like, there are double taxes, property change, limits of concessions to five hectares and five years, and a tax of 2 thousand euros a year that is a huge tax”, Zogaj said.

He also spoke of the tax on Serbia and Bosnia, where he said OAK supports the tax because the production sector has increased production by 35 percent.

Economic development has only reached 30-35 percent more, and Oda of Afarism is a major advocate of the tax, but let's see how it will go, Zogaj said.

And Burim Piraj from the company “Meka” said that the 100 percent tax has affected the growth of production and development of businesses by about 30 percent.

Piraj said that even placing flags close to products on brands has positively affected businesses.

He said that how the Ode of Kosovo Afarism is for respecting free market rights, at the same time demanded that the tax be in force for political, not economic aspect, while demanding reforms for businesses.

We appeal to Kosovo institutions to continue the tax because of the political situation, not because of the economic situation, because we are for a free market. However, in addition to that, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo must make sincere, deep reforms based on what it has constantly sought for business. To facilitate business work, the first item to be allowed, the VAT fee to be done after importing goods, especially to allow small and medium-sized firms to come to the first and untaxed subject”, Piraj said.

While present at this conference was Ismet Kalander, owner of the company “Lary”, who supported the tax on Serbian goods.