Minister Shala: Due to barriers, Kosovo export is lowest in region

Shala speaking at the nationwide economic forum “The possibility and challenges of Kosovo-Albania/Albanian relations”, said the barriers of Kosovo businesses were rarely reported, but according to him, are obvious and these are the fundamental reasons for the trade balance Kosovo currently has, but, MTI is doing the impossible to eliminate.

Kosovo's <x0th economy, is a small economy, is a consumer economy, honoring economies that have at least exports in relation to other CEFTA member states. All of this, not because we don't have enough production, or because we don't have quality production, but because of political reasons, tax and non-tariff barriers that are located by CEFTA countries in relation to Kosovo exporter. Unfortunately, these barriers were rarely reported by our responsible institutions, but not by business representatives. Fortunately, after last year, after my chairmanship in CEFTA during 2018, this report has begun to change. Currently, every barrier that exists during the export of Kosovo products except reportedly we will make it impossible even to eliminate”, the minister stressed.

The minister has invited businesses from Albania to report barriers to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Honored representatives of Albanian businesses, from here I invite you to use the MTI to report any barrier shown to you during the export of your products to the Republic of Kosovo, because our attitude is to respect all agreements reached, open up our markets for Albanian products, grow nationwide economics. But I request the same treatment for Kosovo producers who export to Albania. Our products there and here should not be treated by our governments differently, they should be treated indiscriminately, as Albanian products”, Shala said.

He made it known that many reports on tariff and non-tariforous barriers that exist within CEFTA member states -- the organisation that includes all countries in the region -- shows that Kosovo is the most discriminated against in terms of barriers established by these countries.

“Therefore as a result of these barriers and Kosovo exports is the lowest in the region”, Shala said.

Minister Shala said CEFTA markets, including Albania's market, are the main destination of Kosovo's exports and, according to him, any obstacle that exporters face to access to these markets has significant implications growing and developing.

In this regard, addressing unwarranted barriers to trade is of high priority in the Government of the Republic of Kosovo agenda. Based on some MTI analysis and research, it turns out that Kosovo has undergone an increased structural deficit in its regional trade, becoming the main import destination for exports of other CEFTA members”, Shala said.

But now, this is changing, because we are addressing all the complaints of our exporters in the region and beyond, all these problems presented will be solved or we will establish reciprocity. Kosovo's trade balance will change, because our products are of required standards, and political issues should not and will not influence this growth of Kosovo export and economy”, Shala said.

The minister has called on producers to use these times to increase trade exchanges.

When trade with Serbia has fallen to the minimum as a result of the 100 %s move proposed by me in order to earn a market in the republic of Kosovo. We are very interested that all Serbian products, but in other countries, be replaced by your products”, the minister said.