Meeting two governments requires removing trade barriers between Kosovo and Albania

At the beginning of this year, these organisations have published two studies on trade deals between the two states, one of Kosovo's perspective, titled “Kosovo-Albania trade potential” and the other from Albania's perspective “Two states an economy”.

The recommendations released from these two studies include the exact implementation of agreements, the elimination of barriers, and the exploitation of existing potential.

Studies recommend, among other things, the establishment of a stable bilateral structure, with political and technical representations, clear mandates and tasks of monitoring and speeding up the implementation of agreements, removal of barriers and the pursuit of other steps towards economic integration; harmonisation of tax and excise legislation; removal of existing barriers within the framework of the establishment and establishment of business in the two countries; the creation of joint instruments (such as the Joint Investment Fund); and the fulfilment of the decision on the use of Durres Port from Kosovo Export Customs and not only import.

These organisations remember that Albania and Kosovo are important trade partners for each other. For Kosovo, Albania takes first place in terms of exports and fifth place in terms of imports. Albania is important for Kosovo even because more than a third of the products traded in Kosovo go through it.

On the other hand, Kosovo is also an important partner for Albania, being the only country with which it has commercial success. But, despite growing trade exchange and deepening economic co-operation efforts through numerous agreements, the potential for increasing trade exchanges for the two countries remains untapped, and trade barriers are still hampering economic integration between them, a media communiqué said.