Gerjali: Import nearly four billion euros, export 595m shows economic woes

Gerxhaliu noted that between January and July 2025, import has reached nearly four billion euros, while exports of only 595m euros, which, according to him, shows the country's “economic recovery”.

When political agendas dominate, it is really utopic to talk about the economy, because no one deals with the economy except for the negative effects Kosovo citizen pays. But to say between January and July 2025 you have had imports of close to four billion, and exports of 595m euros best testifies to the misery that has engulfed the Kosovo economy. All of this testifies to the fact that the economy has been politicised and the very fact that we don't have institutional creation is a direct damage that hits the local economy”, he said, in interview for Online Economy, broadcast Periscope.

He thinks that without immediate changes in approach to the economy and without support for businesses, Kosovo risks losing even more capital and production.

“The situation is alarming in terms of trade balance or the ratio between export and import in Kosovo. It's time for a dialogue on depoliticisation of the economy, it's a time when there should be a business approach and not always have access to destroy businesses, because ultimately from this situation from Kosovo citizens are leaving, capital is leaving and production is starting to go. There is no emotion in the economy, interest and profit. If conditions are not created for a literal business with trends and positive results, then we should not be surprised that many products that are produced in Kosovo today will be found in Albania, Macedonia or elsewhere, because economic circumstances and economic factors -- whether micro or macro -- are much more favourable there than we offer in Kosovo”, he said.

Gerxhaliu also criticised the establishment of the electricity price, calling it a factor that is making local production uncompetitive, not only on the regional market, but also on the European market.

The fact that we have an electricity price rise and now the ZRRE wins in the judicial process that has the right to raise the price and make Kosovo noncompetitive, not in the local or regional market, but also in the wider European process.
It should not surprise us that we are here that Kosovo unfortunately exports only cash ready. The very fact that in November 2024 you had an inflation rate of 0.9 percent, and today in July it has reached 4.3 percent is an increase in the price of essential products by 25 percent”, Gerjaliu said. /Periscope/