Edi Rama: January 1st we open the border for Serbian goods, expect direct investment

The government's head indicated during the press conference with Serbian President Vucic and RMV representative Dimitrov that at the summit, he has received all necessary support from three countries' entrepreneurs for facilitating the procedures of free movement of goods and people.

Rama said that on 1 January, Albania will open the border to Serbian goods.

Today is different. The focus has been on people, companies, farmers, workers, students who are the real beneficiaries of the Open Balkans and that everyone in his own way suffers waiting on the border, the burden of bureaucracy, controls, inspections.

I'm glad we're focused on what the point is. The point of this initiative is to expand our economies, our markets, which are small, but if integrated, they become an important market and foreign investment. More and more, it is pointing out that there is a limit to market use.

To benefit from more foreign direct investment, we must offer a wider space. We faced entrepreneurs from all three countries directly and their real problems. All unanimously demanded that what we sign be translated into a tangible reality at the border, where problems begin.

We have exporters from Serbia, Macedonia from fruit supply, milk that cannot stay on borders for days. You can't make it to the border Friday night and wait Monday to pass the milk.

Or to bring products from Konispol to Serbia, from field to market to go through customs. Or three weeks to wait for products from another country, Rama said.