Head of KASK: We have extraordinary import decline from Serbia

Kosovo Statistics Agency chief head (ASK), Isa Krasniqi, told Online Economy that there is an increase in import and export with several other neighbouring states, while with Serbia there is a tremendous decline in import.

“The import and export is basically connected to EU countries, and then normally that the difference at the moment of taxing is evident, because we have a tremendous decline in import with northern neighbours and we also have a reflection of import and export growth with several other neighbours”.

When he spoke of implementing recommendations derived from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA), he said they were asked to produce as many official statistics and indicators as possible so that analyses and policymaking can be developed according to facts.

“As far as the document as the SAA is concerned, statistics are in chapter 18 and we have an important role in the process of European obligations as the Statistical Agency, where we too are required to produce as many official and irreverent statistics as possible so that analyses and policymaking are possible for policies, programmes and strategies to develop on the basis of facts, and in our progress report as ASK, we are well assessed, because a progress is being outlined in the area of official statistics --111x>

He has demanded that unemployment statistics not be mishandled. According to him, they use Eurostat methodology, but it says in some cases there are also misunderstandings. Tests and other comments belong to other institutions or individuals, he says.

We publish all data and have recently published working market statistics, The ASS based on the assistance of international organisations, we have achieved a progress in this direction, but we intend to achieve even more because of the fact that in the job force survey, we first have the public data on annual bases, last year we have achieved a stability of labour market production through a three-month job force survey. Comparison by various analysts should be made on the basis of the figures coming out of these” polls.

There are sometimes misconceptions, there are differences, but also different opinions, but we publish the data based on Eurostat methodology. We are responsible only for publishing their collection, processing and analysis data, always based on Eurostat standards, while analyses and other comments belong to other institutions or individuals”.

He has clarified that they are preparing for the population census projected to take place in 2012. This, according to him, has added to the need for the additional budget for this institution, which has also received government support, reports EO.

“In the sense of numbers in the past year we have an increase, there is a commitment or support that appears from Kosovo institutions, we have a growth in the budget in 2018, if compared with the previous years, we have an even greater increase in 2019, compared to 2018 because we already have some major projects in this project, we have in the process of preparing population census”.

“ ... We started this project in the past year, but now intensive preparations continue this year where there are some pilot-like preparation and then the census in 2021 and this has reflected that we have a bigger budget in 2019 and we have a bigger budget in 2020, 2021 and that's because the establishment of this budget is reflected by the Government of Kosovo's pledge to support and implement the population's 2021x1>.