Pandemia/ Businesses suffered drop in revenues by 50%, some could go bankrupt

The first producer hopes that economic recovery will occur as soon as possible otherwise, the decline in the economy will be drastic, adding that effects will be observed especially during November.

Whether business, producers are facing the most difficult period since 1999, when we have had the Kosovo conflict. It's an extremely difficult year, we have reduced consumption of economic activity in general, and many companies are operating with limited and limited workers' capacity. For the number of businesses that are closed we've done a survey with the World Bank and we haven't yet received the final results, so we can't speculate if it's closed. Maybe there's some other laundry in Gastronomy or Hoteler, we haven't got the final information yet. There are job losses”, Panja told Online Economy.

This year you are seeing a drastic decline. The real effects will be seen in the coming months, especially during November. The losses are enormous. Many sectors have a decline of up to 50 percent of our annual circulation. The recovery has to happen very soon because many companies can risk going bankrupt and we have nothing left to save”, he added.

He even says the law on recovery should be voted in the Assembly as soon as possible. It called on political subjects to think about the country's economy and not just about personal interests.

We have a package of recovery that has been introduced as in the form of law where measures that will be taken in thick lines are envisioned. Funds for credit, pension guarantees, privatisation fund will be made available to the economy. But there's a package that has yet to be worked on so that we have the right details about whether production or other sectors will be the focus. This should then be negotiated with the government. It is very important for us that political parties vote on this law in parliament. Unfortunately, political parties are not thinking about the economy, but only about political”, he said.

Among other things, Panja stressed that it is very important that many activities take place in Kosovo and money remain in place.

The Ministry of Finance and the Government of Kosovo have said that there are 65m euros available to enter the economy. We have insisted on changing the public procurement law where public acquisitions in Kosovo will be given priority. This also helps produce and supply consumption to happen within Kosovo. The goal is that as many activities take place within Kosovo and money remain in Kosovo. And if these measures are implemented as soon as possible then the consequences of pandemic will be more limited”, Panja stressed.

According to him, at this stage producers need to increase the consumption of local products in the Kosovo market.

For us, it's important that we start a campaign of awareness for citizens for the consumption of local products, which is important that the government make purchases for local products to increase its demand. We have prisons that should be supplied with local food, and we have hospitals that should be supplied with textiles if need be, local drugs and schools that can be furnished with local products”, he concluded.